Matthew Poole and continuators on Proverbs 6:3

3. Do this now, my son, and deliver thy self, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend , go, humble thy self , and make sure thy friend.

Into the Power.

Either 1. Of the Creditor, who possibly may be also thy Friend; yet take the following course with him, and much more if he be a Stranger. Or 2. Of the Debtor, for whom, as being thy Friend, thou didst become Surety; whereby thou art not only in the Creditors Power▪ to exact payment, but also in the Debtors Power, by his neglect or unfaithfulness, to expose thee to the payment of the Debt. And this may seem best to agree both with v. 1. where Friend is taken in that sense, and is distinguished from the Creditor who is called a stranger, and with the words here following; for this humbling of himself was not likely to have much power with a Stranger, and a griping Usurer; but it might probably prevail with his Friend, either to take effectual care to pay the Debt, or at least to discharge him from the obligation, or to secure him against it some other way.

Heb. Offer thy self to be trodden upon, or Throw thy self down at his feet. As thou hast made thy self his Servant, bear the fruits of thine own Folly, and humbly and earnestly implore his Patience and Clemency.

h Or, and prevail with thy Friend, strive to win him by thine incessant and earnest solicitations. Or, honour or magnifie thy Friend, which is fitly and properly opposed to, and indeed is in some good measure done by the humbling a mans self before him.

Marginal references: Or, so shalt thou prevail with thy friend▪