A Stroll Through Proverbs: Proverbs 6:1-6:5 “Biblical Warning About Assuming Another’s Debts”

1 “My son, ^a if thou {¹ be surety [collateral] for} thy friend [neighbour], if thou ^b hast {² stricken thy hand with} a stranger,

            ^a Proverbs 11:15, 17:18, 20:16, 22:26, 27:13; ¹ Accepted liability for the debt of; ^b Ezra 10:19; {² Given your guarantee for}

2 Thou art snared [trapped] with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.

3 Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend [neighbour]; go humble thyself, ¹and make sure thy friend}.

            ¹ Plead with, press your plea with

4 Give ^a not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.

            ^a Psalm 132:4

5 Deliver thyself as a roe [gazelle, adult male deer] from the hand of the hunter, and as a ^a bird from the hand of the fowler [bait-layer, one who captures birds in traps].”

            ^a Psalm 91:3, 124:7