Dangerous Promises

My son, (A)if you become [a]surety for your friend,
If you have [b]shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,
You are snared by the words of your mouth;
You are taken by the words of your mouth.
So do this, my son, and deliver yourself;
For you have come into the hand of your friend:
Go and humble yourself;
Plead with your friend.
(B)Give no sleep to your eyes,
Nor slumber to your eyelids.
Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
And like a bird from the hand of the [c]fowler.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 6:1 guaranty or collateral
  2. Proverbs 6:1 Lit. struck
  3. Proverbs 6:5 One who catches birds in a trap or snare

15 He who is (A)surety[a] for a stranger will suffer,
But one who hates [b]being surety is secure.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:15 guaranty
  2. Proverbs 11:15 those pledging guaranty, lit. those who strike hands

18 (A)A man devoid of [a]understanding [b]shakes hands in a pledge,
And becomes [c]surety for his friend.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:18 Lit. heart
  2. Proverbs 17:18 Lit. strikes the hands
  3. Proverbs 17:18 guaranty or collateral

16 (A)Take the garment of one who is surety for a stranger,
And hold it as a pledge when it is for a seductress.

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The (A)rich rules over the poor,
And the borrower is servant to the lender.

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26 (A)Do not be one of those who [a]shakes hands in a pledge,
One of those who is [b]surety for debts;
27 If you have nothing with which to pay,
Why should he take away your bed from under you?

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:26 Lit. strikes
  2. Proverbs 22:26 guaranty

13 Take the garment of him who is surety for a stranger,
And hold it in pledge when he is surety for a seductress.

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