Proverbs 20:16
Take his garment when a stranger hath been surety, And for strangers pledge it.
Young's Literal Translation
In The King James Version
Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
In Context
15Substance, gold, and a multitude of rubies, Yea, a precious vessel, [are] lips of knowledge.
17Sweet to a man [is] the bread of falsehood, And afterwards is his mouth filled [with] gravel.
Cross References
Exodus 22:26if thou dost at all take in pledge the garment of thy neighbour, during the going in of the sun thou dost return it to him:
Proverbs 5:3For the lips of a strange woman drop honey, And smoother than oil [is] her mouth,
Proverbs 7:5To preserve thee from a strange woman, From a stranger who hath made smooth her sayings.
Proverbs 11:15Evil [one] suffereth when he hath been surety [for] a stranger, And whoso is hating suretyship is confident.
Proverbs 23:27For a harlot [is] a deep ditch, And a strange woman [is] a strait pit.
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 20:16
15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. The lips of knowledge (a good understanding to guide the lips and a good elocution to diffuse the knowledge) are to be preferred far before gold, and pearl, and rubies; for, 1. They are more rare in themselves, more scarce and hard to be got. There is gold in many a man's pocket that has no grace in his heart. In Solomon's time there was plenty of gold ( 1 Kings x. 21 ) and abundance of rubies; every body wore them; they… Read the whole commentary →