Proverbs 6:2 if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth,

When I read this portion of Proverb 6 I hear my father’s words; “Shut your trap.”

This line relates to the first. It does not stand alone.

Proverbs 6:3 then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into the hand of your neighbor: go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor.

This sounds a little like “look before you leap”.

Proverbs 20:25 It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,” and to reflect only after making vows.

Looking into making and keeping vows in the gospels we will find only one example.

Mark 6:22-24 English Standard Version

22 For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” 23 And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” 24 And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.”

Never make a vow without measuring the cost.

Luke 14:28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?

The example there is a tower but for us in this life with Christ it is the cost of building a new life together. He shares His plans for us and it is up to us to accept or reject those plans with a better understanding of what we are getting into, knowing what it is going to cost us.

John 12:48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.

In summary, trust in the Lord, not your neighbor.

Words spoken in haste are soon regretted.

PROVERBS 6:1

KJ21

My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast struck thy hand with a stranger,

ASV

My son, if thou art become surety for thy neighbor, If thou hast stricken thy hands for a stranger;

AMP

My son, if you have become surety (guaranteed a debt or obligation) for your neighbor, If you have given your pledge for [the debt of] a stranger or another [outside your family],

Typing in “Life Lessons” in my bible app resulted in a view into Proverbs 6. The title of that proverb is Practical Warnings. The title was added by the editors of the ESV, so the assumption is that this Proverb contains some practical advice.

In modern terms would we cosign a loan for a stranger?

Genesis 4:9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?”

OK, bad example but if you are not willing to secure family, why secure a stranger?

This is old school advice. We find new advice in the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Luke 10.

 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

How  can we resolve the differences between the two forms of advice?

In the Proverb the neighbor wanted a loan they were not qualified to get on their own. In Luke 10 the neighbor had been wronged.

Proverbs 26:4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.

Sage advice.