The one who puts up security for a stranger ¹  will surely have trouble, ²  but whoever avoids ³  shaking hands ⁴  will be secure.

The one who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous ¹  will flourish like a green leaf. ² 

The one who trusts in his own heart ¹  is a fool, but the one who walks in wisdom ²  will escape. ³ 

Even when an army is deployed against me, I do not fear. ¹  Even when war is imminent, ²  I remain confident. ³ 

The Lord answered, ¹  “If you have raced on foot against men and they have worn you out, how will you be able to compete with horses? And if you feel secure only ²  in safe and open country, ³  how will you manage in the thick undergrowth along the Jordan River? ⁴ 

“Tell King Hezekiah of Judah this: ‘Don’t let your God in whom you trust mislead you when he says, “Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.”

They will eat up your crops and your food. They will kill off ¹  your sons and your daughters. They will eat up your sheep and your cattle. They will destroy your vines and your fig trees. ²  Their weapons will batter down ³  the fortified cities you trust in.