“A man without sense gives a pledge”: “Man” translates the Hebrew ʾadam, which refers to any person without regard to gender. “Without sense”, as in 7.7, is literally “lacking heart.” See this usage of “heart” in verse 16. “Gives a pledge” is literally “strikes hands,” an expression used in 6.1. See there for comments.

“And becomes surety in the presence of his neighbor”: For “becomes surety” and “neighbor” see 6.1. “In the presence of his neighbor” is best understood to mean “on behalf of his neighbor,” that is, “he promises to pay his neighbor’s debt.” We may translate this saying, for example, “A foolish person promises to pay someone else’s debt.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .