26 Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge

or puts up security for debts;

27 if you lack the means to pay,

your very bed will be snatched from under you.

28 Do not move an ancient boundary stone

set up by your ancestors.

29 Do you see someone skilled in their work?

They will serve before kings;

they will not serve before officials of low rank.

26 Be not thou one of them that strike hands, Or of them that are sureties for debts. 27 If thou hast nothing to pay, Why should he take away thy bed from under thee? 28 Remove not the ancient landmark, Which thy fathers have set. 29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; He shall not stand before mean men.

26 Don’t agree to guarantee another person’s debt

or put up security for someone else.

27 If you can’t pay it,

even your bed will be snatched from under you.

28 Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers

set up by previous generations.

29 Do you see any truly competent workers?

They will serve kings

rather than working for ordinary people.

26 Do not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge,

One of those who is surety for debts;

27 If you have nothing with which to pay,

Why should he take away your bed from under you?

28 Do not remove the ancient landmark

Which your fathers have set.

29 Do you see a man who excels in his work?

He will stand before kings;

He will not stand before unknown men.

26 Don’t promise to pay what someone else owes,

and don’t guarantee anyone’s loan.

27 If you cannot pay the loan,

your own bed may be taken right out from under you.

28 Don’t move an old stone that marks a border,

because those stones were set up by your ancestors.

29 Do you see people skilled in their work?

They will work for kings, not for ordinary people.

26 Be thou not one of them that strike hands,

Or of them that are sureties for debts.

27 If thou hast not wherewith to pay,

Why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

28 Remove not the ancient landmark,

Which thy fathers have set.

29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings;

He shall not stand before mean men.

26 Be not of them that strike hands, of them that are sureties for debts: 27 if thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

28 Remove not the ancient landmark which thy fathers have set.

29 Hast thou seen a man diligent in his work? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before the mean.

26 Do not be ⸤found⸥ among those who make deals with a handshake, 

among those who guarantee other people’s loans. 

27 If you have no money to pay back a loan, 

why should your bed be repossessed? 

28 Do not move an ancient boundary marker 

that your ancestors set in place. 

29 Do you see a person who is efficient in his work? 

He will serve kings. 

He will not serve unknown people. 

26 Don’t be one of those who enter agreements,

who put up security for loans.

27 If you have no money to pay,

even your bed will be taken from under you.

28 Don’t move an ancient boundary marker,

that your fathers set up.

29 Do you see a man skilled in his work?

He will stand in the presence of kings.

He will not stand in the presence of unknown men.

26 Do not be one of those who give pledges,

who become surety for debts.

27 If you have nothing with which to pay,

why should your bed be taken from under you?

28 Do not remove the ancient landmark

that your ancestors set up.

29 Do you see those who are skillful in their work?

They will serve kings;

they will not serve common people.

26 Do not be with those who give a pledge

by becoming surety.

27 If there is nothing for you to pay,

why will he take your bed from under you?

28 Do not remove an ancient boundary marker

which your ancestors made.

29 A man who is skillful in his work, you shall see:

before kings, he will serve;

he will not serve before the commoners.

26 Don’t agree to pay for

what someone else owes.

27 Don’t put up money for him.

If you don’t have the money to pay,

your bed will be taken right out from under you!

28 Don’t move old boundary stones

that your people set up long ago.

29 Do you see a man who does good work?

He will serve kings.

He won’t serve ordinary people.

26 Do not be among those who give pledges,

Among those who become guarantors for debts.

27 If you have nothing with which to pay,

Why should he take your bed from under you?

28 Do not move the ancient boundary

Which your fathers have set.

29 Do you see a man skilled in his work?

He will stand before kings;

He will not stand before obscure men.