Proverbs 22:26

22:26,27. Every man ought to be just to himself, and his family; those are not so, who, by folly or other carelessness, waste what they have. 28. We are taught not to trespass on another man's right. And it is hard to find a truly industrious man. Such a man will rise. Seest thou a man diligent in the business of religion? He is likely to excel. Let us then be diligent in God's work.

Be not thou one of them that strike hands,.... Or "among them" (m), 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 ; 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. (m) "inter", Pagninus, Tigurine version, Mercerus, Gejerus, Michaelis.

Proverbs 22:26-27 . Be not of them that are sureties for debts — Namely, rashly or unnecessarily. Why should he take away thy bed, &c. — Why wilt thou put thyself into the hands of such a man, who will exact the debt from thee without compassion? For though God did not allow the practice of taking and keeping a poor person’s bed, or necessary clothing, (see Exodus 22:26-27 ,) yet covetous creditors would frequently do it.

A third distich follows: 26 Be not among those who strike hands, Among those who become surety for loans. 27 If thou hast nothing to pay, Why shall he take away thy bed from under thee? To strike hands is equivalent to, to be responsible to any one for another, to stake one's goods and honour for him, Proverbs 6:1; Proverbs 11:15; Proverbs 17:18 - in a word, ערב, seq. acc., to pledge oneself for him (Genesis 43:9), or for the loan received by him, משּׁאה, Deuteronomy 24:10 (from השּׁה, with ב, of the person and accus. of the thing: to lend something to one on interest). The proverb warns against being one of such sureties (write בּערבים with Cod. 1294, and old impressions such as the Venice, 1521), against acting as they do; for why wouldest thou come to this, that when thou cast not pay (שׁלּם, to render a full equivalent reckoning, and, generally, to pay, Proverbs 6:31), (Note: After Ben-Asher, the pointing is אם־אין־לך; while, on the contrary, Ben-Naphtali prefers אם־אין לך; vid., my Genesis (1869), pp. 74 (under Genesis 1:3) and 81. So, without any bearing on the sense, Ben-Asher points למּה with Tarcha, Ben-Naphtali with Mercha.) he (the creditor) take away thy bed from under thee? - for, as Proverbs 20:16 says, thus improvident suretyships are wont to be punished.