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Against Pledges

My child, if you have pledged to your neighbor,
    if you have bound yourself[a] to the stranger,
if you are snared by the sayings of your mouth,
    if you are caught by the sayings of your mouth,
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.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 6:1 Literally “palms of your hands”
  2. Proverbs 6:3 Literally “the palm of the hand of your neighbor”

Wise advice

My son, if you guarantee a loan for your neighbor
    or shake hands in agreement with a stranger,
    you will be trapped by your words;
    you will be caught by your words.
Do this, my son, to get out of it,
    for you have come under the control of your neighbor.
    So go, humble yourself,[a] and pester your neighbor.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 6:3 Heb uncertain

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

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:18 Literally “heart”
  2. Proverbs 17:18 Literally “pledges a hand”

18 One with no sense shakes hands on a deal,
    securing a loan for a friend.

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

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16 Take the garment of the person who secures a loan for a stranger;
    take his pledge for a foreigner.

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

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:7 Literally “the borrower belonging to a man”

The wealthy rule over the poor;
    a borrower is a slave to a lender.

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13 Take his garment, for he gives surety to a stranger,
    and to an adulteress[a]so take his pledge.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 27:13 Literally “a foreign woman”

13 Take the garment of the person who secures a loan for a stranger;
    take his pledge for a foreigner.

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26 Do not be with those who give a pledge[a]
    by becoming[b] surety.
27 If there is nothing for you to pay,[c]
    why will he take your bed from under you?

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:26 Literally “strike a hand”
  2. Proverbs 22:26 Literally “in the becomings of”
  3. Proverbs 22:27 Or “complete”

26 Don’t shake hands to guarantee a loan.
27 If you can’t repay,
    why should they be able to take your bed from you?

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