Mishle 22:26

26 Be not thou one of them that shake hands in a pledge, or of them that are collateral for masha’ot (debts, loans).

Mishle 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.

---

FOOTNOTES:

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

Mishle 22:26 In-Context

24 Make no friendship with a ba’al af (angry man), and with an ish chemot (man of wrath) thou shalt not go,

25 Lest thou learn his orkhot (ways), and take a mokesh (snare) for thy nefesh.

26 Be not thou one of them that shake hands in a pledge, or of them that are collateral for masha’ot (debts, loans).

27 If thou hast nothing with which to pay, why should he take away thy mishkav (bed) from under thee?

28 Remove not the gevul olam (ancient landmark), which avoteicha have set.