Avoid Disaster

1  My son, 

if you guarantee a loan for your neighbor 

or pledge yourself for a stranger with a handshake, 

2  you are trapped by the words of your own mouth, 

caught by your own promise. 

3  Do the following things, my son, so that you may free yourself, 

because you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands: 

Humble yourself, 

and pester your neighbor. 

4  Don’t let your eyes rest 

or your eyelids close. 

5  Free yourself like a gazelle from the hand of a hunter 

and like a bird from the hand of a hunter. 

6  Consider the ant, you lazy bum. 

Watch its ways, and become wise. 

7  Although it has no overseer, officer, or ruler, 

8  in summertime it stores its food supply. 

At harvest time it gathers its food. 

9  How long will you lie there, you lazy bum? 

When will you get up from your sleep? 

10  “Just a little sleep, 

just a little slumber, 

just a little nap.” 

11  Then your poverty will come ⸤to you⸥ like a drifter, 

and your need will come ⸤to you⸥ like a bandit.