This also we had before, ch. xx. 16. 1. It shows who those are that are
hastening to poverty, those that have so little consideration as to be
bound for every body that will ask them and those that are given to
women. Such as these will take up money as far as ever their credit
will go, but they will certainly cheat their creditors at last, nay,
they are cheating them all along. An honest man may be made a beggar,
but he is not honest that makes himself one. 2. It advises us to be so
discreet in ordering our affairs as not to lend money to those who are
manifestly wasting their estates, unless they give very good security
for it. Foolish lending is injustice to our families. He does not say,
"Get another to be bound with him," for he that makes himself a common
voucher will have those to be his security who are as insolvent as
himself; therefore take his garment.