²⁶ Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.

¹⁵ He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure.

¹⁸ A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

¹ My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,

² Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.

³ Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.

⁴ Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.

⁵ Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

¹³ Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.