Proverbs 27:13
“Take his garment when he puts up collateral for a stranger. Hold it for a wayward woman!”
What does Proverbs 27:13 mean?
When someone rashly agrees to pay another person's debt, they're taking on serious financial risk, and this verse warns against trusting their judgment or security. The practical instruction here is to hold onto something of real value from them (their coat or cloak) as insurance, since their willingness to guarantee a stranger's obligations shows they make poor decisions. The second line applies this same caution to lending money to an unfaithful or unreliable woman, using similar logic: if someone's track record shows they're reckless with money or commitments, you need actual collateral, not just their promise. This isn't about being harsh or unforgiving, but about protecting yourself from genuine financial loss. The proverb assumes we live in a world where people sometimes act foolishly, and it encourages us to be wise stewards of what we've been given rather than naive about risk.