Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 6:1-2
Proverbs 6:1-2. My son, if thou be surety for, or to, thy friend Namely, rashly and unadvisedly, without considering for whom, or how the thou dost oblige thyself, or how thou shalt discharge the debt if occasion require it: otherwise suretiship, in some cases, may be not only lawful, but an act of justice and charity; if thou hast stricken thy hand Obliged thyself by giving thy hand, or joining thy hand with another man’s, as the custom then was in such cases; (of which, see Job 17:3,... read more
The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 6:2
Thou art snared with the words of thy month, etc.; i.e. the inevitable consequence of an inconsiderate undertaking of suretyship is that you become entangled and involved by your own premises, and hampered by self-imposed obligations. The Authorized Version rightly regards this as the conclusion. So the Vulgate. Others, however, carry on the hypothesis, and insert im , "if:" "If thou art snared," etc.; but without warrant (Zockler, Wordsworth, Plumptre). The LXX . throws the thought... read more