Endorsing a Friend
“My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.”(Proverbs 6:1-2 KJV)
Solomon gives a warning regarding the practical matter of vouching for or endorsing a friend and doing business with strangers. These are not warnings to avoid situations like these altogether, but simply a recognition of the inherent dangers in them. These situations can lure you and trap you into a compromising position unless you are careful.
To “be surety for” a friend implies some responsibility for their actions – either fiscal responsibility or legal responsibility. When he breaks his responsibility, you then are liable along with him. Your good name is in potential danger.
To have “stricken hands with a stranger” means that you have entered into some kind of legally binding agreement with him. With this comes certain obligations that you have consented to. You have given your word and you must not go back on it. The warning comes in with him being a stranger because there may be things about him or his motives that you do not know. Therefore, you should be wise as a serpent and yet harmless as a dove.
Read Ecclesiastes 7:1; Psalms 15:4; Ephesians 5:15; Matthew 10:16