Read the Bible

¹ My child, suppose you agree
to pay the debt of someone,
    who cannot repay a loan.
² Then you are trapped
    by your own words,
³     and you are now in the power
    of someone else.
Here is what you should do:
    Go and beg for permission
    to call off the agreement.
⁴ Do this before you fall asleep
    or even get sleepy.
⁵ Save yourself, just as a deer
or a bird
    tries to escape
    from a hunter.

⁶ You lazy people can learn
    by watching an anthill.
⁷ Ants don't have leaders,
⁸     but they store up food
    during harvest season.
⁹ How long will you lie there
    doing nothing at all?
    When are you going to get up
    and stop sleeping?
¹⁰ Sleep a little. Doze a little.
    Fold your hands
    and twiddle your thumbs.
¹¹ Suddenly, everything is gone,
    as though it had been taken
    by an armed robber.

¹² Worthless liars go around
¹³ winking
    and giving signals
    to deceive others.
¹⁴ They are always thinking up
something cruel and evil,
    and they stir up trouble.
¹⁵ But they will be struck
by sudden disaster
    and left without a hope.

¹⁶ There are six or seven
kinds of people
    the Lord doesn't like:
¹⁷ Those who are too proud
    or tell lies or murder,
¹⁸     those who make evil plans
    or are quick to do wrong,
¹⁹ those who tell lies in court
    or stir up trouble
    in a family.

²⁰ Obey the teaching
    of your parents—
²¹     always keep it in mind
    and never forget it.
²² Their teaching will guide you
    when you walk,
protect you when you sleep,
    and talk to you
    when you are awake.

²³ The Law of the Lord is a lamp,
    and its teachings
    shine brightly.
Correction and self-control
    will lead you through life.
²⁴ They will protect you
    from the flattering words
    of someone else's wife.^[a]
25 Don't let yourself be attracted
by the charm
    and lovely eyes
    of someone like that.
²⁶ A woman who sells her love
can be bought
    for as little
    as the price of a meal.
But making love
to another man's wife
    will cost you everything.
²⁷ If you carry burning coals,
    you burn your clothes;
²⁸     if you step on hot coals,
    you burn your feet.
²⁹ And if you go to bed
with another man's wife,
    you pay the price.

³⁰ We don't put up with thieves,
    not even^[b] with one who steals
    for something to eat.
³¹ And thieves who get caught
    must pay back
    seven times what was stolen
    and lose everything.
³² But if you go to bed
    with another man's wife,
    you will destroy yourself
    by your own stupidity.
³³ You will be beaten
    and forever disgraced,
³⁴ because a jealous husband
can be furious and merciless
    when he takes revenge.
³⁵ He won't let you pay him off,
    no matter what you offer.