More Warnings
1 My child, have you promised to be responsible for someone else's debts? 2 Have you been caught by your own words, trapped by your own promises? 3 Well then, my child, you are in that person's power, but this is how to get out of it: hurry to him, and beg him to release you. 4 Don't let yourself go to sleep or even stop to rest. 5 Get out of the trap like a bird or a deer escaping from a hunter.
6 Lazy people should learn a lesson from the way ants live. 7 They have no leader, chief, or ruler, 8 but they store up their food during the summer, getting ready for winter. 9 How long is the lazy man going to lie around? When is he ever going to get up? 10 “I'll just take a short nap,” he says; “I'll fold my hands and rest a while.” 11 But while he sleeps, poverty will attack him like an armed robber.
12 Worthless, wicked people go around telling lies. 13 They wink and make gestures to deceive you, 14 all the while planning evil in their perverted minds, stirring up trouble everywhere. 15 Because of this, disaster will strike them without warning, and they will be fatally wounded.
16-19 There are seven things that the Lord hates and cannot tolerate:
A proud look,a lying tongue,hands that kill innocent people,a mind that thinks up wicked plans,feet that hurry off to do evil,a witness who tells one lie after another,and someone who stirs up trouble among friends.Warning against Adultery
20 Son, do what your father tells you and never forget what your mother taught you. 21 Keep their words with you always, locked in your heart. 22 Their teaching will lead you when you travel, protect you at night, and advise you during the day. 23 Their instructions are a shining light; their correction can teach you how to live. 24 It can keep you away from bad women, from the seductive words of other men's wives. 25 Don't be tempted by their beauty; don't be trapped by their flirting eyes. 26 A man can hire a prostitute for the price of a loaf of bread, but adultery will cost him all he has.
27 Can you carry fire against your chest without burning your clothes? 28 Can you walk on hot coals without burning your feet? 29 It is just as dangerous to sleep with another man's wife. Whoever does it will suffer. 30 People don't despise a thief if he steals food when he is hungry; 31 yet if he is caught, he must pay back seven times more—he must give up everything he has. 32 But a man who commits adultery doesn't have any sense. He is just destroying himself. 33 He will be dishonored and beaten up; he will be permanently disgraced. 34 A husband is never angrier than when he is jealous; his revenge knows no limits. 35 He will not accept any payment; no amount of gifts will satisfy his anger.
Praktiskas pamācības
1 Dēls, ja esi galvojis par kaimiņu,
ja svešiniekam siti saujā,
2 tu esi nomedīts pats savas mutes vārdos,
notverts pats savas mutes vārdos!
3 Tad rīkojies, dēls, un glābies,
jo tu sava kaimiņa varā! –
Ej un zemojies,
ej un labinies savam kaimiņam!
4 Nedod miega savām acīm,
ne snaudiena saviem plakstiem,
5 glābies kā gazele no slazda,
kā putns no ķērāja rokas!
6 Ej pie skudras, tu, sliņķi,
raugi, kā viņa dara, ņemies gudrībā –
7 tai nav ne pavēlnieka,
ne virsnieka, ne valdnieka,
8 tomēr sev vasarā tā barību iekrāj,
pļaujas laikā savelk sev ēsmu!
9 Cik ilgi, sliņķi, vēl gulēsi,
kad celsies no miega?
10 Mazliet nomiega, mazliet snaudas,
mazliet saņemt rokas un atlaisties –
11 un jau kā staigulis trūkums tev klāt
un nabadzība kā varmāka!
12 Kas nelietis un nekrietns vīrs,
tas staigā līkās valodās,
13 ar aci mirkšķina, ar kāju piegrūž,
ar pirkstiem rāda zīmes.
14 Nešķīstība tam sirdī,
visu laiku tas ļaunu perina,
ķildas tas ceļ,
15 bet pēkšņi nelaime nāks pār to,
tas tūlīt satriekts – nebūs dziedināms!
16 Seši ir, ko Kungs nīst,
un septiņi, kas viņam derdzas, –
17 lepnīgas acis, melīga mēle
un rokas, kas lej nevainīgas asinis,
18 sirds, kas kaļ nekrietnas domas,
kājas, kas steidz uz ļaunu,
19 viltus liecinieks, kas dveš melus,
un tāds, kas ceļ ķildas starp brāļiem.
20 Glabā, dēls, ko tēvs tev pavēl,
neatmet to, ko māte tev māca,
21 sien to vienmēr ap savu sirdi,
apsaitē to sev ap kaklu –
22 ejot tas tevi vadīs,
guļoties tas tevi sargās,
kad modīsies, tas tērzēs ar tevi!
23 Jo pavēle ir lākturis
un mācība – gaisma,
un pārmācība ir dzīvības ceļš,
24 lai sargātu tevi no ļaunas sievas,
no svešinieces glāsmainās mēles!
25 Neļauj sirdij kārot tās skaistumu,
ka tā tevi negūsta ar savu acu šķelmību –
26 maukas cena ir plācenis maizes,
bet precēta sieva –
tā tev nomedīs dārgo dzīvību!
27 Vai cilvēks var nēsāt uguni azotē,
ka viņa drēbes neaizdegtos?
28 Vai cilvēks var staigāt pa kvēlām oglēm,
ka viņa kājas nesviltu?
29 Tāpat – kas iet pie cita sievas –
netiks attaisnots, kas pieskaras tai!
30 Vai nav nievāts zaglis,
kaut tas zog, lai pamielotos, kad bads moka,
31 notverts tas atmaksā septiņkārt
un visu, kas namā, spiests atdot!
32 Kas pārkāpj laulību, tas bezprātis –
pats savu dzīvību nokauj,
33 brūces un negodu gūst,
un viņa kauns netiks izdzēsts!
34 Jo dusmu kvēle vīru dedz –
tas netaupīs atmaksas brīdī,
35 tas neņems nekādu izpirkumu,
tas neielaidīsies – dod, cik gribi!
