Proverbs 6:1 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

My son, if thou be surety— This and the ten following verses contain precepts oeconomical. The wise man recommends first, not to become surety for another; and, secondly, to avoid idleness: he inculcates the first advice in various places of this book; and certainly nothing is more contrary to true oeconomy, than to expose one's own affairs to ruin from the negligence and ill-conduct of a stranger: Solomon does not forbid us to give or to lend; he exhorts, on the contrary, to do it readily, and with a good heart; but not to engage ourselves in the entangled affairs of others. The first philosophers of Greece held the same maxims; and the ancient Persians had an especial abhorrence of two things, debts and lies. Striking hands was an ancient custom among the easterns, whereby they confirmed their promises and engagements. See chap. Proverbs 17:18. The LXX render this verse, My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, thou wilt give thine hand to an enemy: as much as to say, "Instead of a friend you will have an enemy;" or, "You will be delivered up to your enemy; i.e. to the creditor of your friend." It may be proper just to observe, that this precept is not to be taken in its utmost rigour; since there certainly may be many cases in which suretyship may be as useful as laudable.