Pro 22:26 | MHM | STEP | Warning Against Being Surety for Debts This section gives advice about not becoming responsible for other people's debts. It teaches that it is unwise and can cause harm to yourself and others. If you take on someone else’s debt and cannot pay, it can ruin your finances and even hurt your family. The Bible warns us to be careful with our money and to avoid risky promises. v. 26 : The Bible says, “Do not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge, one of those who is surety for debts” (Proverbs 22:26 ). We should not become close friends with people who have a bad reputation with money and who might pressure us to guarantee their loans. Often, such people just use others to keep their bad habits going, and in the end, it causes more harm. Also, we should not agree to pay someone else’s debt if we know we do not have enough money ourselves. If we promise to pay, but cannot, it is unfair to those who trusted us. In Old Testament times, if someone could not pay, even their bed could be taken as payment (Exodus 22:26-27 ). We must also be responsible for our own families. It is wrong to put ourselves in trouble or lose what we have because of our own bad choices or because we take on other people's debts. If we lose our possessions for doing good, we can be joyful; but if we suffer because of our own mistakes, it is much harder to accept.

‏ Proverbs 22:26

Warning Against Being Surety for Debts

This section gives advice about not becoming responsible for other people's debts. It teaches that it is unwise and can cause harm to yourself and others. If you take on someone else’s debt and cannot pay, it can ruin your finances and even hurt your family. The Bible warns us to be careful with our money and to avoid risky promises.

v. 26: The Bible says, “Do not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge, one of those who is surety for debts” (Proverbs 22:26 ^a). We should not become close friends with people who have a bad reputation with money and who might pressure us to guarantee their loans. Often, such people just use others to keep their bad habits going, and in the end, it causes more harm. Also, we should not agree to pay someone else’s debt if we know we do not have enough money ourselves. If we promise to pay, but cannot, it is unfair to those who trusted us. In Old Testament times, if someone could not pay, even their bed could be taken as payment (Exodus 22:26-27 ^b). We must also be responsible for our own families. It is wrong to put ourselves in trouble or lose what we have because of our own bad choices or because we take on other people's debts. If we lose our possessions for doing good, we can be joyful; but if we suffer because of our own mistakes, it is much harder to accept.