1. My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, thou hast engaged fast thy hand to a stranger.
2. Thou art ensnared with the words of thy mouth, and caught with thy own words.
3. Do therefore, my son, what I say, and deliver thyself: because thou art fallen into the hand of thy neighbour. Run about, make haste, stir up thy friend:
4. Give not sleep to thy eyes, neither let thy eyelids slumber.
5. Deliver thyself as a doe from the hand, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
6. Go to the ant, O sluggard, and consider her ways, and learn wisdom:
7. Which, although she hath no guide, nor master, nor captain,
8. Provideth her meat for herself in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.