Bridges on Proverbs 22:26-27
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 22:26-27
 
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26.  Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts. 27.  If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
 
Avoid contention, not only with angry, but with imprudent, perhaps unprincipled associates. Strike not your hands† as a surety, without forethought, perhaps without upright principle. Repeated warnings have been given of this danger.† Striking hands for a friend is often striking, and even wounding, our own hearts. The putting your hand to a bill may be almost signing a warrant for your own execution. At all events it is a fraud to give security for more than you are worth; promising what you are unable to perform. The creditor may fairly in this case proceed to extremities† — not with the debtor (whom he knows to be worth nothing, and whom indeed the law of God protected†) — but with the surety. And why — the wise man asks — shouldest thou rashly incur beggary and ruin, so as to have the bed taken from under thee?
There is, however, so much danger of erring in over-caution, and of indulging selfishness under the cover of prudence, that these wholesome cautions must be considerately applied. Yet, in “devising liberal things” (Isaiah 32:8), we must combine scrupulous regard to justice and truth (Philippians 4:8); else our very charity will prove the scandal, instead of the glory, of our profession.† ‘We may “take joyfully the spoiling of our goods,” for the testimony of a good conscience. But as the fruit of our own rashness and folly, we cannot but take it heavily.’† Oh! let our Divine Master be honored in our profession; by well-doing “putting to silence the ignorance of foolish men.”†
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 6:1.
 
 
Proverbs 6:1
1 ¶ My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Ib. Verses 1, 2; 11:15; 17:18.
 
 
Proverbs 6:1, 2
1 ¶ My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, 2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.
 
Proverbs 11:15
15 ¶ He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure. {smart: Heb. be sore broken} {suretiship: Heb. those that strike hands}
 
Proverbs 17:18
18 ¶ A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend. {understanding: Heb. heart}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 20:16.
 
 
Proverbs 20:16
16 ¶ Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Exodus 22:26, 27. Deuteronomy 24:12, 13.
 
 
Exodus 22:26, 27
26 If thou at all take thy neighbor's raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down: 27 For that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.
 
Deuteronomy 24:12, 13
12 And if the man be poor, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge: 13 In any case thou shalt deliver him the pledge again when the sun goeth down, that he may sleep in his own raiment, and bless thee: and it shall be righteousness unto thee before the LORD thy God.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Isaiah 32:8
8 But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand. {stand: or, be established}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Philippians 4:8
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. {honest: or, venerable}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Romans 14:16. 1 Timothy 5:22. Hebrews 12:13.
 
 
Romans 14:16
16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
 
1 Timothy 5:22
22 Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.
 
Hebrews 12:13
13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. {straight: or, even}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Hebrews 10:34. Henry in loco.
 
 
Hebrews 10:34
5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
1 Peter 2:12, 15; 3:16.
 
 
1 Peter 2:12, 15
12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. {whereas: or, wherein} 15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
 
1 Peter 3:16
16 ¶ Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.