1 My child, if you have pledged to your neighbor, if you have bound yourself 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: 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.
6 Go to the ant, lazy! Consider its ways and be wise.
7 It has no chief, officer, or ruler.