Against Pledges

• if you have bound yourself[fn] 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 :[fn]
• 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.