Proverbs

¹My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger, ²you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth. ³So do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands: Go—to the point of exhaustion— and give your neighbor no rest! ⁴Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids. ⁵Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler. ⁶Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! ⁷It has no commander, no overseer or ruler,