Proverbs 6:1-5

The Voice

6 My son, if you will risk your family’s future to put up collateral for the debts of an acquaintance,
    if you seal a commitment with a handshake to someone without first knowing the value of his word,
² Then your words may well be the trap that snares you,
    and your promise may seal your fate.
    You can’t be sure to whom you hitched your future.
³ So, my son—save yourself! Here’s what you need to do:
    go to that person who became your master with a handshake,
    humble yourself, and plead your case.
⁴ Do not sleep;
    don’t even rest your eyes until you deal with this.
⁵ Get out as quickly as possible,
    as a gazelle runs from the hand of the hunter,
    as a bird takes off from the grip of the fowler.