³

So do this, my son, and deliver yourself; For you have come into the hand of your friend: Go and humble yourself; Plead with your friend.

⁴

Give no sleep to your eyes, Nor slumber to your eyelids.

⁵

Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, And like a bird from the hand of the fowler.

⁶

Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise,

⁷

Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler,

⁸

Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest.

⁹

How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep?

¹⁰

A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep—

¹¹

So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.

¹²

A worthless person, a wicked man, Walks with a perverse mouth;

¹³

He winks with his eyes, He shuffles his feet, He points with his fingers;

¹⁴

Perversity is in his heart, He devises evil continually, He sows discord.

¹⁵

Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy.

¹⁶

These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:

¹⁷

A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood,

¹⁸

A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil,

¹⁹

A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.

²⁰

My son, keep your father’s command, And do not forsake the law of your mother.