¹⁸ One who lacks sense gives a pledge
    and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.

^15 (A)Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm,
    but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.

6 My son, if you have put up ^(A)security for your neighbor,
    have ^(B)given your pledge for a stranger,
² if you are ^(C)snared in the words of your mouth,
    caught in the words of your mouth,
³ then do this, my son, and save yourself,
    for you have come into the hand of your neighbor:
    go, hasten,^[a] and ^(D)plead urgently with your neighbor.
^4 (E)Give your eyes no sleep
    and your eyelids no slumber;
⁵ save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,^{[b]
    (F)}like a bird from the hand of the fowler.

²⁶ Be not one of those who ^(A)give pledges,
    who put up security for debts.
²⁷ If you have nothing with which to pay,
    why should ^(B)your bed be taken from under you?

¹⁶ Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth,
    or gives to the rich, ^(A)will only come to poverty.

^16 (A)Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger,
    and ^(B)hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.^[a]