“‘It is bad.
It is bad.’
Says the buyer.
Then he goes away.
Then he boasts.
There is gold.
There is an abundance of costly stones.
But the lips informed by knowledge
Are a precious jewel.
Take the garment of one
Who has given surety for a stranger.
Seize the pledge
Given as surety for foreigners.
Bread gained by deceit is sweet.
But afterward the mouth will be full of gravel.”
Here we have a series of business transactions. We have already seen the bad scales and measures. Now this is how people complain when they buy something, saying it is bad. However, when they go away they boast about the good bargain they just made. Although there are gold and precious stones, nothing is more precious than lips informed by knowledge. Then there is the problem of pledge and surety for loans. It is not a good idea to lend to strangers, especially if you are the stranger. You seem to be able to take their garments and pledges. Watch out for bread that you get by being deceitful, it may taste sweet at first, but afterwards it will be like a mouthful of gravel.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 