Take his garment when he becomes guarantor for a stranger; And for foreigners, seize a pledge from him.
Parallel translations
- WEB Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
- KJV Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
- BSB Take the garment of the one who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.
- NKJV Take the garment of one who is surety for a stranger, And hold it as a pledge when it is for a seductress.
- NLT Get security from someone who guarantees a stranger’s debt. Get a deposit if he does it for foreigners.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
If someone foolishly guarantees a stranger's debt, demand security from him. It matters as a warning about the danger of careless financial pledges.
Overview
Repeated in Proverbs 27:13, this saying advises taking collateral from one reckless enough to co-sign for strangers, since such a person is a poor credit risk. The wider counsel of Proverbs warns against rashly putting up surety (6:1-5; 11:15). It teaches prudence and caution in financial commitments.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Prov 27:13Take his garment when he puts up collateral for a stranger. Hold it for a wayward woman!
- Exod 22:26–27If you take your neighbor’s garment as collateral, you shall restore it to him before the sun goes down,
- Prov 22:26–27Don’t you be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts.
- Prov 11:15He who is collateral for a stranger will suffer for it, but he who refuses pledges of collateral is secure.
- Prov 7:10Behold, there a woman met him with the attire of a prostitute, and with crafty intent.
- Prov 2:16To deliver you from the strange woman, even from the foreigner who flatters with her words;
- Prov 7:5that they may keep you from the strange woman, from the foreigner who flatters with her words.
- Prov 23:27For a prostitute is a deep pit; and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
- Prov 5:3For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. Her mouth is smoother than oil,
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 20:16 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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