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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.

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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

The Folly of Guaranteeing Loans

My son, if you guarantee a loan for your neighbor,
if you have agreed to a deal[a] with a stranger,
trapped by your own words,
    and caught by your own words,
then do this, my son, and deliver yourself,
    because you have come under your neighbor’s control.[b]
Go, humble yourself!
    Plead passionately with your neighbor!

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 6:1 Lit. have clapped your hands; i.e. have shaken hands
  2. Proverbs 6:3 Lit. into the hands of your neighbor

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

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18 A man who lacks sense[a] cosigns a loan,[b]
    becoming a guarantor for his neighbor.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:18 Lit. heart
  2. Proverbs 17:18 Lit. sense strikes the palm

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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16 Take the garment of anyone who puts up collateral for a stranger;
    hold it in pledge if he does it for an unfamiliar woman.

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The rich rule over the poor,
    and the borrower is the slave of the lender.(A)

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The wealthy rule over the poor,
    and anyone who borrows is a slave to the lender.

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13 Take the garment of one who has given surety for a stranger;
    seize the pledge given as surety for foreigners.[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. 27.13 Vg and 20.16: Heb for a foreign woman

13 Take the coat of anyone who puts up security for a stranger;
    hold it in pledge if he cosigns for an immoral woman.

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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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26 Don’t be one of those who make promises
    to guarantee loans for debts.
27 If you don’t have the ability to pay,
    why should your very bed be taken from under you?

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