"Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; and hold him in pledge that is surety for foreigners." Proverbs 20:16
The book of Proverbs is dedicated to promoting wisdom in everyday living. Our passage today instructs us that if we are going to be wise, we should hold a fool responsible for their actions. Solomon has already established the folly of pledging yourself as a surety for someone else’s debt; especially a stranger’s (Prov. 6:1, 11:15). Here he says that pity should not keep you from holding a man to his word. This may seem harsh, but in reality, it is a mercy for us to come face to face with our mistakes, especially if it keeps us from repeating the mistake in the future. We find this principle in Proverbs 19:19 - A man of great wrath shall bear the penalty; For if thou deliver him, thou must do it yet again. Solomon says that if you deliver a man from the consequences of repeated foolishness, you will find yourself doing it again and again. The hope is that the discipline of the consequences will lead the individual to repentance and wisdom.