Wise Ants, Wicked People

^[1] My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger, ^[2] you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth. ^[3] So do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands: Go-to the point of exhaustion- and give your neighbor no rest! ^[4] Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids. ^[5] Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler. ^[6] Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! ^[7] It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, ^[8] yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. ^[9] How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? ^[10] A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest- ^[11] and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man. ^[12] A troublemaker and a villain, who goes about with a corrupt mouth, ^[13] who winks maliciously with his eye, signals with his feet and motions with his fingers, ^[14] who plots evil with deceit in his heart- he always stirs up conflict. ^[15] Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant; he will suddenly be destroyed-without remedy. ^[16] There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: ^[17] haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, ^[18] a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, ^[19] a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.