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Key Verse Spotlight

Proverbs 20:16 - Meaning and Application

Understand how this verse speaks to what you're facing and how to apply it today

Translation: World English Bible — Catholic Edition

" Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman. "

Proverbs 20:16

menu_book Verse in Context

14 “It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.

15 There is gold and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.

16 Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.

17 Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.

18 Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!

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Two kinds of people are spoken of here. Both are ruining their own property and will soon become beggars, so no one should trust them with solid security.

First are those who are ready to stand surety for anyone who asks. They get caught in reckless promises to help their idle companions. Such people will soon fail, because they cannot keep it up for long. They waste their resources in large amounts.

Second are those who keep company with immoral women, who court them, spend on them, and stay close to them. They will soon become poor too, so never lend them credit without good security. Loose women have ways of draining men’s wealth in order to enrich themselves.

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Related Verses

Proverbs 27:13

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"Take his garment when he puts up collateral for a stranger. Hold it for a wayward woman!"

Speaks to the same theme

Proverbs 11:15

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"He who is collateral for a stranger will suffer for it, but he who refuses pledges of collateral is secure."

Speaks to the same theme

Exodus 22:26

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"If you take your neighbor’s garment as collateral, you shall restore it to him before the sun goes down,"

Speaks to the same theme

Job 22:6

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"For you have taken pledges from your brother for nothing, and stripped the naked of their clothing."

Speaks to the same theme

Deuteronomy 24:17

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"You shall not deprive the foreigner or the fatherless of justice, nor take a widow’s clothing in pledge;"

Speaks to the same theme

Genesis 43:9

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"I’ll be collateral for him. From my hand will you require him. If I don’t bring him to you, and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever;"

Speaks to the same theme

Related verses from Bible Guided Semantic Search

From This Chapter

Proverbs 20:1

"Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise."

Proverbs 20:2

"The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life."

Proverbs 20:3

"It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling."

Proverbs 20:4

"The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing."

Proverbs 20:5

"Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out."

Proverbs 20:6

"Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?"

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