6 My son, if you have become surety (guaranteed a debt or obligation) for your neighbor,
If you have given your pledge for [the debt of] a stranger or another [outside your family],
² 
If you have been snared with the words of your lips,
If you have been trapped by the speech of your mouth,
³ 
Do this now, my son, and release yourself [from the obligation];
^[a]Since you have come into the hand of your neighbor,
Go humble yourself, and plead with your neighbor [to pay his debt and release you].
⁴ 
Give no [unnecessary] sleep to your eyes,
Nor slumber to your eyelids;
⁵ 
Tear yourself away like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter
And like a bird from the hand of the fowler.

¹⁵ 
He who puts up security and guarantees a debt for an outsider will surely suffer [for his foolishness],
But he who hates (declines) being a guarantor is secure [from its penalties].

¹⁸ 
A man lacking common sense gives a pledge
And becomes guarantor [for the debt of another] in the presence of his neighbor.

¹⁶ 
[The judge tells the creditor], “Take the clothes of one who is surety for a stranger;
And hold him in pledge [when he guarantees a loan] for foreigners.”^(A)