Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 29
29
1HE that sheweth mercy, lendeth to his neighbour: and he that is stronger in hand, keepeth the commandments.
2Lend to thy neighbour in the time of his need, and pay thou thy neighbour again in due time.
3Reap thy word, and deal faithfully with him: and thou shalt always find that which is necessary for thee.
4Many have looked upon a thing lent as a thing found, and have given trouble to them that helped them.
5Till they receive, they kiss the hands of the lender, and in promises they humble their voice:
6But when they should repay, they will ask time, and will return tedious and murmuring words, and will complain of the time:
7And if he be able to pay, he will stand off, he will scarce pay one half, and will count it as if he had found it:
8But if not, he will defraud him of his money, and he shall get him for an enemy without cause:
9And he will pay him with reproaches and curses, and instead of honour and good turn will repay him injuries.
10Many have refused to lend, not out of wickedness, but they were afraid to be defrauded without cause.
11But yet towards the poor be thou more hearty, and delay not to shew him mercy.
12Help the poor because of the commandment: and send him not away empty handed because of his poverty.
13Lose thy money for thy brother and thy friend: and hide it not under a stone to be lost.
14Place thy treasure in the commandments of the most High, and it shall bring thee more profit than gold.
15Shut up alms in the heart of the poor, and it shall obtain help for thee against all evil.
16Better than the shield of the mighty, and better than the spear:
17It shall fight for thee against thy enemy.
18A good man is surety for his neighbour: and he that hath lost shame, will leave him to himself.
19Forget not the kindness of thy surety: for he hath given his life for thee.
20The sinner and the unclean fleeth from his surety.
21A sinner attributeth to himself the goods of his surety: and he that is of an unthankful mind will leave him that delivered him.
22A man is surety for his neighbour: and when he hath lost all shame, he shall forsake him.
23Evil suretyship hath undone many of good estate, and hath tossed them as a wave of the sea.
24It hath made powerful men to go from place to place round about, and they have wandered in strange countries.
25A sinner that transgresseth the commandment of the Lord, shall fall into an evil suretyship: and he that undertaketh many things, shall fall into judgment.
26Recover thy neighbour according to thy power, and take heed to thyself that thou fall not.
27The chief thing for man's life is water and bread, and clothing, and a house to cover shame.
28Better is the poor man's fare under a roof of boards, than sumptuous cheer abroad in another man's house.
29Be contented with little instead of much, and thou shalt not hear the reproach of going abroad.
30It is a miserable life to go as a guest from house to house: for where a man is a stranger, he shall not deal confidently, nor open his mouth.
31He shall entertain and feed, and give drink to the unthankful, and moreover he shall hear bitter words.
32Go, stranger, and furnish the table, and give others to eat what thou hast in thy hand.
33Give place to the honourable presence of my friends: for I want my house, my brother being to be lodged with me.
34These things are grievous to a man of understanding: the upbraiding of houseroom, and the reproaching of the lender.
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Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 29: DRC1752
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An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.