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My son, if you have become collateral for your neighbor,
    if you have struck your hands in pledge for a stranger,
you are trapped by the words of your mouth;
    you are ensnared with the words of your mouth.
Do this now, my son, and deliver yourself,
    since you have come into the hand of your neighbor.
Go, humble yourself.
    Press your plea with your neighbor.
Give no sleep to your eyes,
    nor slumber to your eyelids.
Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
    like a bird from the snare of the fowler.

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Financial Entanglements

My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor[a]
or entered into an agreement with[b] a stranger,(A)
you have been snared by the words of your mouth—
trapped by the words from your mouth.
Do this, then, my son, and free yourself,
for you have put yourself in your neighbor’s power:
Go, humble yourself, and plead with your neighbor.
Don’t give sleep to your eyes
or slumber to your eyelids.(B)
Escape like a gazelle from a hunter,[c]
like a bird from a hunter’s trap.[d](C)

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Footnotes

  1. 6:1 Or friend
  2. 6:1 Lit or slapped hands for
  3. 6:5 Lit hand
  4. 6:5 Lit hand

15 He who is collateral for a stranger will suffer for it,
    but he who refuses pledges of collateral is secure.

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15 If someone puts up security for a stranger,
he will suffer for it,(A)
but the one who hates such agreements is protected.

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18 A man void of understanding strikes hands,
    and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor.

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18 One without sense enters an agreement[a]
and puts up security for his friend.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 17:18 Lit sense slaps hands

16 Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger;
    and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.

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16 Take his garment,
for he has put up security for a stranger;
get collateral if it is for foreigners.(A)

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26 Don’t you be one of those who strike hands,
    of those who are collateral for debts.
27 If you don’t have means to pay,
    why should he take away your bed from under you?

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26 Don’t be one of those who enter agreements,[a]
who put up security for loans.(A)
27 If you have nothing with which to pay,
even your bed will be taken from under you.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 22:26 Lit Don’t be among hand slappers