6 My child, if you have pledged to your neighbor,
    if you have bound yourself^[a] to the stranger,
² if you are snared by the sayings of your mouth,
    if you are caught by the sayings of your mouth,
³ do this, then, my child, and save yourself,
    for you have come into the palm of your neighbor’s hand:^[b]
    Go, humble yourself, plead with your neighbor.
⁴ Do not give sleep to your eyes,
    or slumber to your eyelids.
⁵ Save yourself like a gazelle from a hand,
    or like a bird from the hand of a fowler.

¹⁵ He will suffer trouble when he loans to a stranger,
    but he who refuses a pledge is safe.

¹⁸ A person who lacks sense^[a] pledges;^[b]
    he becomes security before his neighbor.

¹⁶ Take his garment, for he has given security to a stranger,
    and on behalf of a foreigner—take it as pledge.

⁷ The rich will rule over the poor,
    and the borrower is a slave of the lender.^[a]