Translation commentary on Proverbs 22:26

“Be not one of those who give pledges”: The command “Be not one of those . . .” is literally “Don’t be among. . .,” suggesting that “there are people who do it, but don’t you be one of them.” “Those who give pledges” translates the Hebrew idiom “[people who] strike hands,” referring to a gesture used for agreeing to a deal or in particular to pledging yourself to become surety for someone else’s debt (see comments on 6.1 and 17.18). Some languages may have customs or idioms similar to the Hebrew; but for most it will be necessary to translate in terms of the current (legal) practice of the community. One good model is Revised English Bible “Never be one to give guarantees”; another is “Do not put yourself in bond for someone else.” See also Contemporary English Version below.

“Who become surety for debts”: This refers to the same people as in the previous line and is another way of expressing the same meaning. For “become surety” see 6.1. The Hebrew terms are common terms for giving a pledge or surety for a debt or loan. Because this line repeats the meaning of the previous line, some translations combine the two lines; for example, Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version “Don’t guarantee to pay someone else’s debt.” A translation that fills in more of the details of the situation says “When another person borrows money, don’t you promise to pay back the loan if he can’t.”

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 22:26)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 22:26:

  • Kupsabiny: “Do not pledge to be sure of someone’s debts.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Do not be security for someone else’s debt.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “[You (sing.)] do- not -promise that you (sing.) will-pay the debt of others.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Do not (sing.) stand-for (as guarantor) a debt of another person,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “Those who answer others honestly show that they are truly their friends.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 22:26

Paragraph 22:26–27 Saying 3

22:26

This verse warns the listener that he should not cosign or promise to pay someone else’s debt. The underlined parallel phrases both refer to the same agreement. Both phrases also refer to the person who guarantees the loan (loan guarantor).

26a Do not be one who gives pledges,

26b who puts up security for debts

The first phrase refers to the gesture that finalizes the agreement. The second phrase specifies that the agreement is about guaranteeing to pay another person’s debt.

Similar verses about guaranteeing a loan occur in 6:1, 11:15, 17:18, and 20:16. All of these verses have minor variations. For example, in 6:1 and 11:15, the underlined parts occur in the opposite order from 17:18 and 22:26. See the notes on each verse for specific details and translation advice.

22:26a–b

Do not be one who gives pledges, who puts up security for debts: In Hebrew, this command is more literally “Do not be among ⌊those who⌋ strike a palm, among ⌊those who⌋ stand surety for debts.” The form of this command indicates that there are people who guarantee to pay someone else’s debt. The reader should not be one of them.

Another way to express this meaning is:

Do not be one of those who… (New Revised Standard Version)

In some languages, it may not be necessary or natural to state this part of the meaning explicitly. Some versions leave it implied. For example:

Don’t promise to pay what someone else owes… (New Century Version)

one who gives pledges: This phrase refers to a person who strikes or claps the palm of another person. The function of this gesture was to conclude a legal or financial agreement. Some ways to translate this gesture are:

• Use a gesture or action that has the same function in your culture. For example:

finalizes his promise by shaking hands
-or-
cosigns another person’s loan

• Translate the meaning without referring to a particular gesture or action. See the quotes from the Contemporary English Version and Good News Translation under the General Comment on 22:26a–b.

puts up security for debts: This phrase refers here to anything that the loan guarantor does to guarantee to the money lender that he will be personally responsible to pay the debt. He may give the lender his own garment (see 20:16), cosign the loan, or publicly swear to give the lender his own property. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

⌊Don’t⌋ …put up security for someone else (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
don’t guarantee anyone’s loan (New Century Version)

General Comment on 22:26a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel lines. For example:

Don’t guarantee to pay someone else’s debt. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Don’t promise to be responsible for someone else’s debts. (Good News Translation)

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