Warnings Against Folly

My son,(A) if you have put up security(B) for your neighbor,(C)
    if you have shaken hands in pledge(D) for a stranger,
you have been trapped by what you said,
    ensnared by the words of your mouth.
So do this, my son, to free yourself,
    since you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands:
Go—to the point of exhaustion—[a]
    and give your neighbor no rest!

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 6:3 Or Go and humble yourself,

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 One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge
    and puts up security for a neighbor.(A)

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

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16 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
    hold it in pledge(A) if it is done for an outsider.(B)

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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 rule over the poor,
    and the borrower is slave to the lender.

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

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13 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
    hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.(A)

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

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Saying 4

26 Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge(A)
    or puts up security for debts;
27 if you lack the means to pay,
    your very bed will be snatched from under you.(B)

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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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