1. My son, if you become surety for your friend, if you have struck your hand with a stranger,
2. You are snared with the words of your mouth, you are taken with the words of your mouth.
3. Do this now, my son, and deliver yourself, when you have come into the hand of your friend; go, humble yourself, and plead with your friend.
4. Give not sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids.
5. Deliver yourself as a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
6. Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
7. Who having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
8. Provides her food in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.
9. How long will you sleep, O sluggard? when will you arise out of your sleep?
10. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
11. So shall your poverty come upon you like a vagabond, and your want like an armed man.
12. A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth.