Proverbs 22:26

26 Do not be with those who {give a pledge} {by becoming} surety.

Proverbs 22:26 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 22:26

Be not thou [one] of them that strike hands
Or "among them" ^F13, of the number of them, that do as they do, give their hand or their bond for others; he surety for them, as it is explained in the following clause; see ( Proverbs 6:1 ) ( 17:18 ) ; [or] of them that are sureties for debts;
contracted by others; that engage for the payment of them, in case the principal fails: and it is much if persons that keep indifferent company, angry and furious men, who are often in broils and quarrels, and spend their time and substance in strife and contention, are not drawn into engagements of this kind.

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FOOTNOTES:

F13 (b) "inter", Pagninus, Tigurine version, Mercerus, Gejerus, Michaelis.

Proverbs 22:26 In-Context

24 Do not befriend an owner of {anger}, and with a man of wrath you shall not associate;

25 lest you learn his way and become entangled in a snare to yourself.

26 Do not be with those who {give a pledge} {by becoming} surety.

27 If there is nothing for you to pay, why will he take your bed from under you?

28 Do not remove an ancient boundary marker which your ancestors made.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "strike a hand"
• [b]. Literally "in the becomings of"