Translation commentary on Proverbs 11:15

“He who gives surety for a stranger will smart for it”: “Surety” was introduced in 6.1. There it was used in relation to close associates as well as to strangers. For “stranger” see 6.1. “Will smart” is literally “suffer injury,” that is, “will be hurt.” New Revised Standard Version has revised Revised Standard Version to say “To guarantee loans for a stranger brings trouble.” Most modern translations agree with Revised Standard Version and New Revised Standard Version. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project supports Revised Standard Version, but adds a second interpretation, “A bad man will be in a bad way [suffer for it] for having gone surety for a stranger.”

“But he who hates suretyship is secure”: “Hates” translates the same word used in 1.22 and 6.16 and in this context has the sense of avoid or keep away from. “Suretyship”, translated as “pledge” in 6.1, is literally “to strike palms [shake hands].” “Secure”, as in 1.33, means to be at ease or untroubled because such people will not be pursued by creditors.

We may render this verse, for example, “If you go surety [promise to pay someone’s debts], you will have troubles. It is better to avoid such promises and be at peace.”

We may also say, for example, “Promise to pay others’ debts and suffer; say “No” and be safe.”

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 .

complete verse (Proverbs 11:15)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 11:15:

  • Kupsabiny: “Any person who stands for a debt (give surety) of somebody he does not know well,
    he will cry from down/regret/suffer later,
    but he who keeps/guards himself,
    is doing well.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “It is dangerous to put up security
    for a stranger’s business dealings.
    One who does not do that will be secure.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “(It is) dangerous if you (sing.) promise to pay the debt of others. Therefore if you (sing.) do not want to have a problem do not do that.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “In-the-future indeed the one who stands-up-for (i.e. as guarantor) the debt of a person whom he does not know will-be-in-difficulty, so it would-be-better if you (sing.) are not doing that so that you (sing.) will have no cause-for-worry.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “If you promise a stranger that you will pay his debt if he cannot pay it himself, you will regret it.
    You will be safe if you refuse to guarantee that you will pay someone else’s debts.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 11:15

11:15

This proverb contrasts the bad consequences of guaranteeing another person’s loan with the good consequences of refusing to do so. Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

15a
He who puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer,

15b but the one who hates indebtedness is secure.

The phrases “puts up security” and “indebtedness” both refer to guaranteeing another person’s loan. See the notes on 6:1a–b and 6:1b, where the same terms occur and the Berean Standard Bible translates the second term as “struck hands in pledge.”

11:15a

He who puts up security for a stranger: The phrase puts up security means “promises to pay a loan if the borrower cannot repay it.” The word stranger is the same word that was used in 6:1b. It refers to anyone who is not a family member, so this person is probably not well known.

will surely suffer: In Hebrew, this phrase can refer to physical suffering or injury. Here it probably refers to undergoing trouble or hardship as a result of having to pay another person’s debt. Some other ways to translate the meaning of this line are:

Whoever guarantees a stranger’s loan will get into trouble (God’s Word)
-or-
If you promise to pay a stranger’s debt, you will regret it. (Good News Translation)
-or-
It’s a dangerous thing to guarantee payment for someone’s debts. (Contemporary English Version)

11:15b

the one who hates indebtedness: In this context, the word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as indebtedness means to clap or strike hands together. People did this to conclude a legal or financial agreement. Shaking hands has a similar function in many cultures today. Another way to translate this is:

whoever refuses to strike hands in pledge (New International Version)

This expression does not refer to borrowing for oneself, but to guaranteeing a loan that another person has received. See the note on 6:1b for further ways to translate this action.

is secure: These words imply that a person who does not guarantee others’ loans is secure from the trouble or hardship that would happen to him if he had to pay someone else’s debt. Some other ways to translate this line are:

It is safer to avoid such promises. (New Century Version)
-or-
You are better off if you don’t get involved. (Good News Translation)
-or-
it is better to refuse than to suffer later (New Living Translation (1996))

Notice that these versions have not kept the gesture of striking hands. They have translated the meaning directly. You will need to decide whether or not to keep the gesture in your translation.

General Comment on 11:15a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine the parallel ideas in these lines, especially if you translate the meaning directly. For example:

It’s a dangerous thing to guarantee payment for someone’s debts. Don’t do it! (Contemporary English Version)

These proverbs are intended as advice, so consider translating at least part of this verse with “you” pronouns. For example:

If you promise to be the guarantor for the debt of a person you do not know, you will certainly have bad consequences. So don’t make such agreements. Avoid the trouble.

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