John Gill Commentary Proverbs 6:3

"Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, Seeing thou art come into the hand of thy neighbor: Go, humble thyself, and importune thy neighbor;" — Proverbs 6:3 (ASV)

Do this now, my son, and deliver yourself
Take the following advice, as the best that can be given in such circumstances, in order to be freed from such an obligation, or to be safe and easy under it.

when you are come into the hand of your friend ;
or, "because or seeing you are fallen into the hand of your friend," as the Targum; or "though you are," &c. as Aben Ezra; which may be understood either of the creditor to whom a man is bound, or of the debtor for whom he is bound, or of both; for a surety is in the hands or power of both: he is in the hands of the creditor, who may demand payment of the debt of him; and he is in the hands of the debtor, who, if a careless or crafty and deceitful man, may leave him to the payment of it. The Septuagint and Arabic versions are, "for you are come into the hands of evil men for your friend;" and the Syriac version, "seeing for your friend you are fallen into the hands of your enemy;" and therefore must make the best of it you can, and in the following way:

go, humble yourself ;
that is, to the creditor, prostrate yourself before him; lie down upon the ground to be trodden on, as the word ^F4 signifies; fall down on your knees, and entreat him to discharge you from the bond, or give longer time for payment, if up; for you are in his hands, and there is no carrying it with a high hand or a haughty spirit to him; humility, and not haughtiness, is most likely to be serviceable in such a case;

and make sure your friend ;
for whom you are become a surety, as the Syriac and Arabic versions add; solicit him, as the former of these versions render it; stimulate him, as the Septuagint; stir him up, urge him to pay off the debt quickly, and discharge the bond, or give you security and indemnity from it. Or, "magnify your friend" ^F5 ; that is, to the creditor; speak of him as a very able and responsible man, and as an honest and faithful one, that will pay in due time. Some render it "magnify", and speak well of the debtor to your friend, which may please and appease him: or, "multiply your friends" ^F6 ; get as many as you can to intercede for you, and get you discharged from the obligation by some means or another; to this purpose Jarchi.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F4: (oprth) "praebe conculcandum te", Montanus, Vatablus, Michaelis.
• F5: (Kyer bhr) "evehe proximum tuum", Tigurine version; "magnifica", so some in Vatablus.
• F6: "Multiplica amicos tuos", so some in Bayne.