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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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Practical Admonitions

My child, if you have given your pledge to your neighbor,
    if you have bound yourself to another,[a](A)
you are snared by the utterance of your lips,[b]
    caught by the words of your mouth.
So do this, my child, and save yourself,
    for you have come into your neighbor’s power:
    go, hurry,[c] and plead with your neighbor.
Give your eyes no sleep
    and your eyelids no slumber;(B)
save yourself like a gazelle from the hunter,[d]
    like a bird from the hand of the fowler.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. 6.1 Or a stranger
  2. 6.2 Cn Compare Gk Syr: Heb the words of your mouth
  3. 6.3 Or humble yourself
  4. 6.5 Cn: Heb from the 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 To guarantee loans for a stranger brings trouble,
    but there is safety in refusing to do so.

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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 It is senseless to give a pledge,
    to become surety for a neighbor.(A)

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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 the garment of one who has given surety for a stranger;
    seize the pledge given as surety for foreigners.

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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 Do not be one of those who give pledges,
    who become surety for debts.(A)
27 If you have nothing with which to pay,
    why should your bed be taken from under you?

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