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My son, a if you become 1 surety for your friend,
If you have 2 shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,
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You are snared by the words of your mouth;
You are taken by the words of your mouth.
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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.
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b Give no sleep to your eyes,
Nor slumber to your eyelids.
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Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
And like a bird from the hand of the 3 fowler.
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c Go to the ant, you sluggard!
Consider her ways and be wise,
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Which, having no 4 captain,
Overseer or ruler,
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Provides her 5 supplies in the summer,
And gathers her food in the harvest.
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d How long will you 6 slumber, O sluggard?
When will you rise from your sleep?
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A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to sleep -
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e So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler,
And your need like an armed man.
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A worthless person, a wicked man,
Walks with a perverse mouth;
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f He winks with his eyes,
He 7 shuffles his feet,
He points with his fingers;
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Perversity is in his heart,
g He devises evil continually,
h He sows discord.
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Therefore his calamity shall come i suddenly;
Suddenly he shall j be broken k without remedy.
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These six things the LORD hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to 8 Him:
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l A 9 proud look,
m A lying tongue,
n Hands that shed innocent blood,
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o A heart that devises wicked plans,
p Feet that are swift in running to evil,
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q A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who r sows discord among brethren.