Proverbs 11:15

The one who puts up security for a stranger ¹  will surely have trouble, ²  but whoever avoids ³  shaking hands ⁴  will be secure.

He who puts up security for another will surely suffer, but whoever refuses to strike hands in pledge is safe.

He who is guarantor for a stranger will surely suffer for it, But he who hates being a guarantor is secure.

Guaranteeing a loan for a stranger is dangerous; it is better to refuse than to suffer later.

Whoever makes deals with strangers is sure to get burned; if you keep a cool head, you'll avoid rash bargains.

He who makes himself responsible for a strange man will undergo much loss; but the hater of such undertakings will be safe.

To guarantee loans for a stranger brings trouble, but there is safety in refusing to do so.

He who is surety for a stranger will suffer, But one who hates being surety is secure.

The one who puts up security for a stranger ¹  will surely have trouble, ²  but whoever avoids ³  shaking hands ⁴  will be secure.

¹ sn The “stranger” could refer to a person from another country or culture, as it often does; but it could also refer to an unknown Israelite, with the idea that the individual stands outside the known and respectable community.

² tn The sentence begins with the Niphal imperfect and the cognate (רַע־יֵרוֹעַ, ra’-yeroa’), stressing that whoever does this “will certainly suffer hurt.” The hurt in this case will be financial responsibility for a bad risk.

³ tn Heb “hates.” The term שֹׂנֵא (shoneh) means “to reject,” and here “to avoid.” The participle is substantival, functioning as the subject of the clause. The next participle, תֹקְעִים (toq’im, “striking hands”), is its object, telling what is hated. The third participle בּוֹטֵחַ (boteakh, “is secure”) functions verbally.

⁴ tn Heb “striking.” The imagery here is shaking hands to seal a contract. The term “hands” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is implied.