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Practical Warnings

My son, if you have become a (A)guarantor for your neighbor,
Have struck your [a]hands in pledge for a stranger,
If you have been snared with the words of your mouth,
Have been caught with the words of your mouth,
Do this then, my son, and deliver yourself;
Since you have come into the [b]hand of your neighbor,
Go, humble yourself, and badger your neighbor.
Give no (B)sleep to your eyes,
Nor slumber to your eyelids;
Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hunter’s hand
And like a (C)bird from the hand of the fowler.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 6:1 Lit palms
  2. Proverbs 6:3 Lit palm

Eighth Address to a Son:
Wisdom Avoids Entanglements

My son, if you have guaranteed your neighbor’s debts,
if you have shaken hands for a stranger,
you are trapped by the promises from your mouth;
you are captured by the promises from your mouth.
Because you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands,
go, humble yourself, and plead with your neighbor.
Do not allow your eyes to sleep,
or your eyelids to slumber.
Save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of a hunter,
or like a bird from the hand of a trapper.

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15 If one becomes a (A)guarantor for a stranger, he will surely suffer,
But he who hates [a]striking hands in pledge is secure.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:15 Or being a guarantor

15 Guaranteeing a loan for a stranger leads to trouble,
but one who hates to shake hands[a] remains secure.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:15 Or make a deal

18 A man lacking a heart of wisdom (A)strikes his [a]hands in pledge
And becomes guarantor in the presence of his neighbor.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:18 Lit palms

18 A person without sense shakes hands
    to guarantee a loan for his neighbor.

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16 Take his garment when he becomes a guarantor for a stranger;
And for foreigners, hold him in pledge.

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16 Take the garment from someone who guarantees a loan for a stranger.
Hold on to it when he offers it as collateral for a foreigner.

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26 Do not be among those who (A)strike [a]hands in pledge,
Among those who become guarantors for debts.
27 If you have nothing with which to pay,
Why should he (B)take your bed from under you?

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:26 Lit palms

26 Do not be among those who shake hands to guarantee debts.
27 If you do not have enough to repay,
why should your bed be taken out from under you?

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