61 My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,
61 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,
61 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger,
61 Dear friend, if you've gone into hock with your neighbor or locked yourself into a deal with a stranger,
61 My son, if you become surety for your friend, If you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,
61 My child, if you have put up security for a friend's debt or agreed to guarantee the debt of a stranger-
18 Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, lo, he had given his hand, and hath done all these things, he shall not escape.
18 He despised the oath by breaking the covenant. Because he had given his hand in pledge and yet did all these things, he shall not escape.
18 He despised the oath in breaking the covenant, and behold, he gave his hand and did all these things; he shall not escape.
18 Because he broke his word and broke the covenant, even though he gave his solemn promise, because he went ahead and did all these things anyway, he won't escape.
18 Since he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, and in fact gave his hand and still did all these things, he shall not escape.' "
18 For the king of Israel disregarded his treaty and broke it after swearing to obey; therefore, he will not escape.
(Read Ezekiel 17:11-21)
The parable is explained, and the particulars of the history of the Jewish nation at that time may be traced. Zedekiah had been ungrateful to his benefactor, which is a sin against God. In every solemn oath, God is appealed to as a witness of the sincerity of him that swears. Truth is a debt owing to all men. If the professors of the true religion deal treacherously with those of a false religion, their profession makes their sin the worse; and God will the more surely and severely punish it. The Lord will not hold those guiltless who take his name in vain; and no man shall escape the righteous judgment of God who dies under unrepented guilt.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Proverbs 6:1
Commentary on Proverbs 6:1-5
(Read Proverbs 6:1-5)
If we live as directed by the word of God, we shall find it profitable even in this present world. We are stewards of our worldly substance, and have to answer to the Lord for our disposal of it; to waste it in rash schemes, or such plans as may entangle us in difficulties and temptations, is wrong. A man ought never to be surety for more than he is able and willing to pay, and can afford to pay, without wronging his family; he ought to look upon every sum he is engaged for, as his own debt. If we must take all this care to get our debts to men forgiven, much more to obtain forgiveness with God. Humble thyself to him, make sure of Christ as thy Friend, to plead for thee; pray earnestly that thy sins may be pardoned, and that thou mayest be kept from going down to the pit.