Proverbs 22:26
New International Version
Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts;

New Living Translation
Don’t agree to guarantee another person’s debt or put up security for someone else.

English Standard Version
Be not one of those who give pledges, who put up security for debts.

Berean Standard Bible
Do not be one who gives pledges, who puts up security for debts.

King James Bible
Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.

New King James Version
Do not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge, One of those who is surety for debts;

New American Standard Bible
Do not be among those who shake hands, Among those who become guarantors for debts.

NASB 1995
Do not be among those who give pledges, Among those who become guarantors for debts.

NASB 1977
Do not be among those who give pledges, Among those who become sureties for debts.

Legacy Standard Bible
Do not be among those who strike hands in pledge, Among those who become guarantors for debts.

Amplified Bible
Do not be among those who give pledges [involving themselves in others’ finances], Or among those who become guarantors for others’ debts.

Christian Standard Bible
Don’t be one of those who enter agreements, who put up security for loans.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Don’t be one of those who enter agreements, who put up security for loans.

American Standard Version
Be thou not one of them that strike hands, Or of them that are sureties for debts.

Contemporary English Version
Don't guarantee to pay someone else's debt.

English Revised Version
Be thou not one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Do not be [found] among those who make deals with a handshake, among those who guarantee other people's loans.

Good News Translation
Don't promise to be responsible for someone else's debts.

International Standard Version
Don't be one of those who make promises to guarantee loans for debts.

Majority Standard Bible
Do not be one who gives pledges, who puts up security for debts.

NET Bible
Do not be one who strikes hands in pledge or who puts up security for debts.

New Heart English Bible
Do not be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts.

Webster's Bible Translation
Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.

World English Bible
Don’t you be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Do not be among those striking hands, "" Among sureties [for] burdens.

Young's Literal Translation
Be not thou among those striking hands, Among sureties for burdens.

Smith's Literal Translation
Thou shalt not be with those striking the hand with those pledging for debts.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Be not with them that fasten down their hands, and that offer themselves sureties for debts:

Catholic Public Domain Version
Do not be willing to be with those who certify with their hands, and who offer themselves as a guarantee against debts.

New American Bible
Do not be one of those who give their hand in pledge, those who become surety for debts;

New Revised Standard Version
Do not be one of those who give pledges, who become surety for debts.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Do not become a surety for a debt simply because you are ashamed to turn down those who ask you,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Do not give yourself as security because you are shamed before people.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Be thou not of them that strike hands, Or of them that are sureties for debts;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Become not surety from respect of a man's person.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Thirty Sayings of the Wise
25or you may learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare. 26Do not be one who gives pledges, who puts up security for debts. 27If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you?…

Cross References
Proverbs 6:1-5
My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge with a stranger, / if you have been trapped by the words of your lips, ensnared by the words of your mouth, / then do this, my son, to free yourself, for you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands: Go, humble yourself, and press your plea with your neighbor. ...

Proverbs 11:15
He who puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, but the one who hates indebtedness is secure.

Proverbs 17:18
A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.

Proverbs 20:16
Take the garment of the one who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.

Proverbs 27:13
Take the garment of him who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.

Exodus 22:25-27
If you lend money to one of My people among you who is poor, you must not act as a creditor to him; you are not to charge him interest. / If you take your neighbor’s cloak as collateral, return it to him by sunset, / because his cloak is the only covering he has for his body. What else will he sleep in? And if he cries out to Me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.

Deuteronomy 24:10-13
When you lend anything to your neighbor, do not enter his house to collect security. / You are to stand outside while the man to whom you are lending brings the security out to you. / If he is a poor man, you must not go to sleep with the security in your possession; ...

Job 22:6
For you needlessly demanded security from your brothers and deprived the naked of their clothing.

Psalm 37:21
The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous are gracious and giving.

Psalm 112:5
It is well with the man who is generous and lends freely, whose affairs are guided by justice.

Matthew 5:25-26
Reconcile quickly with your adversary, while you are still on the way to court. Otherwise, he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. / Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

Matthew 6:12
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Matthew 18:23-35
Because of this, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. / As he began the settlements, a debtor owing ten thousand talents was brought to him. / Since the man was unable to pay, the master ordered that he be sold to pay his debt, along with his wife and children and everything he owned. ...

Luke 6:34-35
And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. / But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

Luke 12:58-59
Make every effort to reconcile with your adversary while you are on your way to the magistrate. Otherwise, he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and the officer may throw you into prison. / I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the very last penny.”


Treasury of Scripture

Be not you one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.

Proverbs 6:1-5
My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, …

Proverbs 11:15
He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure.

Proverbs 17:18
A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

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Agreement Burdens Collateral Debts Hands Pledge Pledges Puts Responsible Security Strike Strikes Striking Surety Themselves
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Agreement Burdens Collateral Debts Hands Pledge Pledges Puts Responsible Security Strike Strikes Striking Surety Themselves
Proverbs 22
1. A good name is more desirable than great wealth














Do not be one who gives pledges
This phrase serves as a caution against entering into financial agreements that could lead to personal ruin. The Hebrew root for "pledges" is "עָרַב" (arab), which means to exchange or to become surety. In ancient times, giving a pledge often involved a personal guarantee, sometimes even risking one's own freedom or family. The Bible consistently warns against such entanglements, emphasizing the importance of financial prudence and the avoidance of unnecessary risks. This advice is timeless, urging believers to exercise wisdom and discernment in their financial dealings.

who puts up security for debts
The phrase "puts up security" refers to the act of guaranteeing another person's debt. The Hebrew word "תַּקִּיעַ" (taqqia) implies a binding agreement or a handshake that seals a deal. In the historical context of the Bible, this could mean offering one's own property or even oneself as collateral. The wisdom literature of Proverbs often highlights the dangers of such commitments, as they can lead to financial enslavement and loss of personal freedom. This teaching encourages believers to trust in God's provision and to avoid becoming entangled in the financial obligations of others, which can lead to unforeseen burdens and stress.

(26) Be not thou one of them that strike hands.--Another warning against suretiship. (See above, on Proverbs 6:1.)



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

be
תְּהִ֥י (tə·hî)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

one who gives pledges,
בְתֹֽקְעֵי־ (ḇə·ṯō·qə·‘ê-)
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 8628: To clatter, slap, clang, to drive, to become bondsman

who puts up security
בַּ֝עֹרְבִ֗ים (ba·‘ō·rə·ḇîm)
Preposition-b, Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 6148: To braid, intermix, technically, to traffic, give to be security

for debts.
מַשָּׁאֽוֹת׃ (maš·šā·’ō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 4859: A loan


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 22:26 Don't you be one of those who (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 22:25
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