Proverbs 6:16-33

¹⁶Six things are hated by the Lord; seven things are disgusting to him:

¹⁷Eyes of pride, a false tongue, hands which take life without cause;

¹⁸A heart full of evil designs, feet which are quick in running after sin;

¹⁹A false witness, breathing out untrue words, and one who lets loose violent acts among brothers.

²⁰My son, keep the rule of your father, and have in memory the teaching of your mother:

²¹Keep them ever folded in your heart, and have them hanging round your neck.

²²In your walking, it will be your guide; when you are sleeping, it will keep watch over you; when you are awake, it will have talk with you.

²³For the rule is a light, and the teaching a shining light; and the guiding words of training are the way of life.

²⁴They will keep you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the strange woman.

²⁵Let not your heart's desire go after her fair body; let not her eyes take you prisoner.

²⁶For a loose woman is looking for a cake of bread, but another man's wife goes after one's very life.

²⁷May a man take fire to his breast without burning his clothing?

²⁸Or may one go on lighted coals, and his feet not be burned?

²⁹So it is with him who goes in to his neighbour's wife; he who has anything to do with her will not go free from punishment.

³⁰Men do not have a low opinion of a thief who takes food when he is in need of it:

³¹But if he is taken in the act he will have to give back seven times as much, giving up all his property which is in his house.

³²He who takes another man's wife is without all sense: he who does it is the cause of destruction to his soul.

³³Wounds will be his and loss of honour, and his shame may not be washed away.