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.
8. In the summer, it prepares its food; in the harvest, it gathers its sustenance.
9. How long will you lie down, lazy? When will you rise up from your sleep?
10. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands for rest—
11. like a robber shall your poverty come, and what you lack like an armed man.