Bava Metzia

Our Rabbis taught: And if the man be poor, thou shalt not sleep in his pledge:  hence, if he is wealthy, thou mayest sleep thus. What does this mean?  — Said R. Shesheth: This is the meaning: And if the man be poor, thou shalt not sleep whilst his pledge is in thy possession; but if he is wealthy, thou mayest do so. Our Rabbis taught: If a man lends [money] to his fellow, he may not take a pledge of him, nor is he bound to return it to him, and he transgresses all these injunctions.  What does this mean? — R. Shesheth said: This: If a man lends [money] to his fellow, he may not [himself] take a pledge of him; and if he did take a pledge of him [by means of a court officer], he is bound to return it;  whilst 'he transgresses all these injunctions' refers to the last clause.  Raba said: It is thus meant: If a man lends money to his neighbour, he may not take a pledge of him [himself], and if he took a pledge of him [through the court], he must return it.  Now, when is this? If the pledge was not taken at the time of the loan.  But if it was taken at the time of the loan,  he is not bound to return it to him.  Whilst 'and he transgresses all these injunctions' refers to the first clause. R. Shizebi recited before Raba: Thou shalt return it unto him until the sun goeth down  — this refers to night attire; in any case thou shalt deliver him the pledge again when the sun goeth down — to an object of day attire. Said he to him: Of what use is an article of day attire by night,  and a night attire by day? Shall I then delete it? he asked. — No, was his reply. It reads thus: Thou shalt return it unto him until the sun goeth down — this refers to an article of day attire, which may be taken in pledge by night; in any case thou shalt deliver him the pledge again when the sun goeth down — to a night attire, which may be taken in pledge by day. R. Johanan said: If he took a pledge of him, [returned it,] and then he [the debtor] died, he may distrain it from his children. An objection is raised: R. Meir said: Now, since a pledge is taken, why is it returned?  'Why is it returned?' [you ask.]  — Surely Scripture ordered, Return it! But [say thus]: Since it is returned,