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Sirach 29

1He who shows mercy will lend to his neighbor. He who strengthens him with his hand keeps the commandments.
1He that is merciful will lend unto his neighbour; and he that strengtheneth his hand keepeth the commandments.
2Lend to your neighbor in time of his need. Repay your neighbor on time.
2Lend to thy neighbour in time of his need, and pay thou thy neighbour again in due season.
3Confirm your word, and keep faith with him; and at all seasons you will find what you need.
3Keep thy word, and deal faithfully with him, and thou shalt always find the thing that is necessary for thee.
4Many have considered a loan to be a windfall, and have given trouble to those who helped them.
4Many, when a thing was lent them, reckoned it to be found, and put them to trouble that helped them.
5Until he has received, he will kiss a man’s hands. For his neighbor’s money he will speak submissively. Then when payment is due, he will prolong the time, return excuses, and complain about the season.
5Till he hath received, he will kiss a man’s hand; and for his neighbour’s money he will speak submissly: but when he should repay, he will prolong the time, and return words of grief, and complain of the time.
6If he prevails, the creditor will hardly receive half; and he will count it as a windfall. If not, he has deprived him of his money, and he has gotten him for an enemy without cause. He will pay him with cursing and railing. Instead of honor, he will pay him disgrace.
6If he prevail, he shall hardly receive the half, and he will count as if he had found it: if not, he hath deprived him of his money, and he hath gotten him an enemy without cause: he payeth him with cursings and railings; and for honour he will pay him disgrace.
7Many on account of fraud have turned away. They are afraid of being defrauded for nothing.
7Many therefore have refused to lend for other men’s ill dealing, fearing to be defrauded.
8However be patient with a man in poor estate. Don’t keep him waiting for your alms.
8Yet have thou patience with a man in poor estate, and delay not to shew him mercy.
9Help a poor man for the commandment’s sake. According to his need don’t send him empty away.
9Help the poor for the commandment’s sake, and turn him not away because of his poverty.
10Lose your money for a brother and a friend. Don’t let it rust under a stone and be lost.
10Lose thy money for thy brother and thy friend, and let it not rust under a stone to be lost.
11Allocate your treasure according to the commandments of the Most High and it will profit you more than gold.
11Lay up thy treasure according to the commandments of the most High, and it shall bring thee more profit than gold.
12Store up almsgiving in your store-chambers and it will deliver you out of all affliction.
12Shut up alms in thy storehouses: and it shall deliver thee from all affliction.
13It will fight for you against your enemy better than a mighty shield and a ponderous spear.
13It shall fight for thee against thine enemies better than a mighty shield and strong spear.
14A good man will be surety for his neighbor. He who has lost shame will fail him.
14An honest man is surety for his neighbour: but he that is impudent will forsake him.
15Don’t forget the kindness of your guarantor, for he has given his life for you.
15Forget not the friendship of thy surety, for he hath given his life for thee.
16A sinner will waste the property of his guarantor.
16A sinner will overthrow the good estate of his surety:
17He who is thankless will fail him who delivered him.
17And he that is of an unthankful mind will leave him in danger that delivered him.
18Being surety has undone many who were prospering and shaken them as a wave of the sea. It has driven mighty men from their homes. They wandered among foreign nations.
18Suretiship hath undone many of good estate, and shaken them as a wave of the sea: mighty men hath it driven from their houses, so that they wandered among strange nations.
19A sinner who falls into suretiship and undertakes contracts for work will fall into lawsuits.
19A wicked man transgressing the commandments of the Lord shall fall into suretiship: and he that undertaketh and followeth other men’s business for gain shall fall into suits.
20Help your neighbor according to your power, and be careful not to fall yourself.
20Help thy neighbour according to thy power, and beware that thou thyself fall not into the same.
21The essentials of life are water, bread, a garment, and a house for privacy.
21The chief thing for life is water, and bread, and clothing, and an house to cover shame.
22Better is the life of a poor man under a shelter of logs than sumptuous fare in another man’s house.
22Better is the life of a poor man in a mean cottage, than delicate fare in another man’s house.
23With little or with much, be well satisfied.
23Be it little or much, hold thee contented, that thou hear not the reproach of thy house.
24It is a miserable life to go from house to house. Where you are a guest, you dare not open your mouth.
24For it is a miserable life to go from house to house: for where thou art a stranger, thou darest not open thy mouth.
25You will entertain, serve drinks, and have no thanks. In addition to this, you will hear bitter words.
25Thou shalt entertain, and feast, and have no thanks: moreover thou shalt hear bitter words:
26“Come here, you sojourner, set a table, and if you have anything in your hand, feed me with it.”
26Come, thou stranger, and furnish a table, and feed me of that thou hast ready.
27“Leave, you sojourner, for an honored guest is here. My brother has come to be my guest. I need my house.”
27Give place, thou stranger, to an honourable man; my brother cometh to be lodged, and I have need of mine house.
28These things are grievous to a man of understanding: The scolding about lodging and the insults of creditors.
28These things are grievous to a man of understanding; the upbraiding of houseroom, and reproaching of the lender.