SEV Biblia, Chapter 6:1
¶ Hijo mío, si salieres fiador por tu amigo, si prometiste al extraño,
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Proverbs 6:1
Verse 1. If thou be surety for thy friend ] û[rl lereacha, for thy neighbour; i.e., any person. If thou pledge thyself in behalf of another, thou takest the burden off him, and placest it on thine own shoulders; and when he knows he has got one to stand between him and the demands of law and justice, he will feel little responsibility; his spirit of exertion will become crippled, and listlessness as to the event will be the consequence. His own character will suffer little; his property nothing, for his friend bears all the burden: and perhaps the very person for whom he bore this burden treats him with neglect; and, lest the restoration of the pledge should be required, will avoid both the sight and presence of his friend. Give what thou canst; but, except in extreme cases, be surety for no man. Striking or shaking hands when the mouth had once made the promise, was considered as the ratification of the engagement; and thus the man became ensnared with the words of his mouth.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 1. My son, if thou be surety for thy friend , etc.] To another; hast engaged thyself by promise or bond, or both, to pay a debt for him, if he is not able, or if required; or hast laid thyself under obligation to any, to see the debt of another paid; [if] thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger ; or “to” him f122 ; whom thou knowest not, and to whom thou owest nothing; and hast given him thine hand upon it, as well as thy word and bond, that what such an one owes him shall be paid; a gesture used in suretyship for the confirmation of it, ( Proverbs 17:18 22:26); or, “for a stranger” And the sense is, either if thou art become bound for a friend of thine, and especially if for a stranger thou knowest little or nothing of, this is a piece of rashness and weakness; or, as Gersom, if thou art a surety to thy friend for a stranger, this also is a great inadvertency and oversight. It is a rash and inconsiderate entering into suretyship that is here cautioned against; doing it without inquiring into, and having sufficient knowledge of the person engaged for; and without considering whether able to answer the obligation, if required, without hurting a man’s self and family; otherwise suretyship may lawfully be entered into, and good be done by it, and no hurt to the surety himself and family. Jarchi interprets it of the Israelites engaging themselves to the Lord at Sinai, to keep his commandments.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-5 - If we live as directed by the word of God, we shall find it profitabl even in this present world. We are stewards of our worldly substance and have to answer to the Lord for our disposal of it; to waste it is rash schemes, or such plans as may entangle us in difficulties an temptations, is wrong. A man ought never to be surety for more than he is able and willing to pay, and can afford to pay, without wronging his family; he ought to look upon every sum he is engaged for, as his ow debt. If we must take all this care to get our debts to men forgiven much more to obtain forgiveness with God. Humble thyself to him, make sure of Christ as thy Friend, to plead for thee; pray earnestly tha thy sins may be pardoned, and that thou mayest be kept from going dow to the pit.
Original Hebrew
בני 1121 אם 518 ערבת 6148 לרעך 7453 תקעת 8628 לזר 2114 כפיך׃ 3709
