¹⁵ Evil `one' suffereth when he hath been surety `for' a stranger, And whoso is hating suretyship is confident.

¹⁸ A man lacking heart is striking hands, A surety he becometh before his friend.

¹ My son! if thou hast been surety for thy friend, Hast stricken for a stranger thy hand,

² Hast been snared with sayings of thy mouth, Hast been captured with sayings of thy mouth,

³ Do this now, my son, and be delivered, For thou hast come into the hand of thy friend. Go, trample on thyself, and strengthen thy friend,

⁴ Give not sleep to thine eyes, And slumber to thine eyelids,

⁵ Be delivered as a roe from the hand, And as a bird from the hand of a fowler.

¹⁶ Take his garment when a stranger hath been surety, And for strangers pledge it.

²⁶ Be not thou among those striking hands, Among sureties `for' burdens.

²⁷ If thou hast nothing to pay, Why doth he take thy bed from under thee?