Take a man’s garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.
Two sorts of persons are here spoken of that are ruining their own estates, and will be beggars shortly, and therefore are not to be trusted with any good security: - 1. Those that will be bound for any body that will ask them, that entangle themselves in rash suretiship to oblige their idle companions; they will break at last, nay, they cannot hold out long; these waste by wholesale.
Take his garment that is surety for a stranger,.... Which a man is cautioned against, Pro 6:1; but if a man will be so weak and foolish, others ought to take care of him, and be cautious how they trust him; for he is in danger of being ruined by his suretyship, and therefore nothing should be lent him without a pledge, without a proper...
Take his garment--implies severe exaction, justified by the surety's rashness. a strange woman--by some readings "strangers," but the former here, and in Pro 27:13, is allowable, and strengthens the sense. The debauchee is less reliable than the merely careless.