Parental Counsel

My son, if you have become a (A)guarantor for your neighbor,
Or have given a handshake for a stranger,
If you have been ensnared by the words of your mouth,
Or caught by the words of your mouth,
Then do this, my son, and save yourself:
Since you have come into the [a]hand of your neighbor,
Go, humble yourself, and be urgent with your neighbor to free yourself.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 6:3 Lit palm

Lessons for Daily Life

My child,[a] if you have put up security for a friend’s debt
    or agreed to guarantee the debt of a stranger—
if you have trapped yourself by your agreement
    and are caught by what you said—
follow my advice and save yourself,
    for you have placed yourself at your friend’s mercy.
Now swallow your pride;
    go and beg to have your name erased.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 6:1 Hebrew My son.

18 A person lacking in [a]sense (A)shakes hands
And becomes guarantor in the presence of his neighbor.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:18 Lit heart

18 It’s poor judgment to guarantee another person’s debt
    or put up security for a friend.

Read full chapter

16 Take his garment when he becomes guarantor for a stranger;
And for foreigners, seize a pledge from him.

Read full chapter

16 Get security from someone who guarantees a stranger’s debt.
    Get a deposit if he does it for foreigners.[a]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 20:16 An alternate reading in the Masoretic Text is for a promiscuous woman.

The (A)rich rules over the poor,
And the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.

Read full chapter

Just as the rich rule the poor,
    so the borrower is servant to the lender.

Read full chapter

13 (A)Take his garment when he becomes a guarantor for a stranger;
And for a foreign woman seize a pledge from him.

Read full chapter

13 Get security from someone who guarantees a stranger’s debt.
    Get a deposit if he does it for foreigners.[a]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 27:13 As in Greek and Latin versions (see also 20:16); Hebrew reads for a promiscuous woman.

26 Do not be among those who (A)shake hands,
Among those who become guarantors for debts.
27 If you have nothing with which to repay,
Why should he (B)take your bed from under you?

Read full chapter

26 Don’t agree to guarantee another person’s debt
    or put up security for someone else.
27 If you can’t pay it,
    even your bed will be snatched from under you.

Read full chapter