Proverbs 20:16-20

Proverbs 20:16-20
English Standard Version
​16 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.
17 Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
    but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.
18 Plans are established by counsel;
    by wise guidance wage war.
19 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets;
    therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.
20 If one curses his father or his mother,
    his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.

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Typically, we read in the Old Testament that a neighbor should not ask for collateral of any kind from their fellow Israelites--they should just give the money to them without charging interest and let the LORD deal with their heart if He wants them to repay the "loan" or treat it like a "gift."  We specifically have seen instructions not to take advantage of the poor that have nothing but their coat to give as collateral.  If someone's cloak was given in pledge, it had to be returned to them by evening, even if they didn't replay the loan, as they used their cloak to keep warm in the evening and made it into their bed.  Here Solomon kind of takes the opposite approach and tells the rich to not deny the poor the money they need and to take the cloak in collateral, even if it's not valuable enough (of course Solomon wants them to obey the Law to give the cloak back by nightfall).  The text also says to not be afraid to give money to foreigners.  This was rare because it was too easy for foreigners to take your money and run away never paying back the loan.  Solomon is telling the Israelites to take care of the poor and the aliens among them even if they don't think that these groups can pay back the money they are borrowing--consider it a loan to the LORD and He will make sure to pay you back with interest.

It may be good to eat food that you worked for, but it will not satisfy you forever.  You will eventually become hungry and thirsty again, and you will have to keep toiling and laboring to keep making money to keep buying food and drink.  Solomon will say in Ecclesiastes that this makes life seem vain and empty.  Without God in the picture, if this is all we are living for, that is a pretty pathetic existence.  Thankfully, God is in the picture, and we look forward to the Day in the future where we will enter His rest that He has prepared for us, and we will be with Him forever and ever.

Don't make big plans without first seeking the advice of many wise counselors, especially when there are heavy consequences for you and those under your authority (like when a king considers sending the military to war).

Do not entrust secrets to a slanderer, gossip or babbler.  They do not know how to keep things in confidence and may even use what you tell them to try to destroy you or others.  Also be careful about the one who doesn't honor his father and mother and instead curses them.  Such a person will have a short life as compared to the long life promised to those who honor their parents.  Don't associate with such people as judgment will fall on them and you don't want to be close to them when that happens.