6 Son, if you endorse a note for someone you hardly know, guaranteeing his debt, you are in serious trouble. ² You may have trapped yourself by your agreement. ³ Quick! Get out of it if you possibly can! Swallow your pride; don’t let embarrassment stand in the way. Go and beg to have your name erased. ⁴ Don’t put it off. Do it now. Don’t rest until you do. ⁵ If you can get out of this trap you have saved yourself like a deer that escapes from a hunter or a bird from the net.

¹⁵ Be sure you know a person well before you vouch for his credit! Better refuse than suffer later.

¹⁸ It is poor judgment to countersign another’s note, to become responsible for his debts.

¹⁶ It is risky to make loans to strangers!

⁷ Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender.

^26-27 Unless you have the extra cash on hand, don’t countersign a note. Why risk everything you own? They’ll even take your bed!

¹³ The world’s poorest credit risk is the man who agrees to pay a stranger’s debts.