“My child!
If you have given your pledge to your neighbor,
If you have bound yourself to another,
You are snared by the utterance of your lips.
You are caught by the words of your mouth.
Do this!
My child!
Save yourself!
You have come into your neighbor’s power.
Go!
Hurry!
Plead with your neighbor!
Give your eyes no sleep.
Give your eyelids no slumber.
Save yourself
Like a gazelle from the hunter!
Save yourself
Like a bird from the hand of the fowler!”
This paternal advice continues with a strange admonition. It seems that there was an ancient custom of pledging your house to help a neighbor. However, here the father warns his children against doing this. If you have already pledged to help, then you are stuck with your own words. However, then it is time to negotiate a resolution with your neighbor since you are under his power. Plead with him until you get this resolved. Do not get any sleep until this is straightened out. You have to save yourself because you are being hunted like a hunter after an animal or a bird that is already caught in a trap.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 