Proverbes 11:15

15 Celui qui cautionne autrui s'en trouve mal, Mais celui qui craint de s'engager est en sécurité.

Proverbes 11:15 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 11:15

He that is surety for a stranger shall smart [for it]
Or in "breaking shall be broken" F17, ruined and undone; he engaging or becoming a bondsman for one whose circumstances he knew not; and these being bad bring a load upon him, such an heavy debt as crushes him to pieces. Mr. Henry observes that our Lord Jesus Christ became a surety for us when we were strangers, and he smarted for it, he was bruised and wounded for our sins; but then he knew our circumstances, and what the consequence would be, and became a surety on purpose to pay the whole debt and set us free; which he was capable of doing: without being broken or becoming a bankrupt himself; for he was not broken, nor did he fail, ( Isaiah 42:4 ) . Jarchi's note is,

``the wicked shall be broken, to whose heart idolatry is sweet;''
and he that hateth suretyship is sure;
or those "that strike" F18, that is, with the hand, used in suretyship; see ( Proverbs 6:1 ) ; such an one is safe from coming into trouble by such means. The Targum is,
``and hates those that place their hope in God.''

FOOTNOTES:

F17 (ewry er) "frangendo frangetur", Michaelis; so Pagninus and others.
F18 (Myeqwt) "complodentes", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius; "defigentes", Mercerus.

Proverbes 11:15 In-Context

13 Celui qui répand la calomnie dévoile les secrets, Mais celui qui a l'esprit fidèle les garde.
14 Quand la prudence fait défaut, le peuple tombe; Et le salut est dans le grand nombre des conseillers.
15 Celui qui cautionne autrui s'en trouve mal, Mais celui qui craint de s'engager est en sécurité.
16 Une femme qui a de la grâce obtient la gloire, Et ceux qui ont de la force obtiennent la richesse.
17 L'homme bon fait du bien à son âme, Mais l'homme cruel trouble sa propre chair.
The Louis Segond 1910 is in the public domain.