Sirach 29

¹ {cf2 He that will shewe mercie, lendeth to his neighbour: and he that hath power ouer himselfe, keepeth the commandements.}

² {cf2 Lend to thy neighbour in time of his neede, and pay thou thy neighbour againe in due season.}

³ {cf2 Keepe thy worde, and deale faithfully with him, and thou shalt always finde the thing that is necessarie for thee.}

⁴ {cf2 Many when a thing was lent them, reckened it to be found, and grieued them that had helped them.}

⁵ {cf2 Till they receiue, they kisse his handes, and for their neighbours good they huble their voyce: but when they should pay againe, they prolong the terme, and giue a careles answere, and make excuses by reason of the time.}

⁶ {cf2 And though he be able, yet giueth hee scarce the halfe againe, & reckeneth the other as a thing found: els he deceiueth him of his money, and maketh him an enemie without a cause: he paieth him with cursing and rebuke, and giueth him euil words for his good deede.}

⁷ {cf2 There be many which refuse to lend because of this inconuenience, fearing to bee defrauded without cause.}

⁸ {cf2 Yet haue thou patience with him that humbleth him selfe, and deferre not mercy from him.}

⁹ {cf2 Helpe the poore for the comandements sake, and turne him not away, because of his pouertie.}

¹⁰ {cf2 Lose thy money for thy brothers & neighbours sake, and let it not rust vnder a stone to thy destruction.}

¹¹ {cf2 Bestowe thy treasure after the commandement of the most High, & it shall bring thee more profite then golde.}

¹² {cf2 Lay vp thine almes in thy secret chambers, and it shall keepe thee from all affliction.}

¹³ {cf2 A mans almes is as a purse with him, & shal keepe a mans fauour as the apple of the eye, and afterward shall it arise, and pay euery man his reward vpon his head.}

¹⁴ {cf2 It shall fight for thee against thine enemies, better then the shield of a strong man, or speare of the mightie.}

¹⁵ {cf2 An honest man is surety for his neighbour: but he that is impudent, forsaketh him.}

¹⁶ {cf2 Forget not the friendship of thy suretie: for he hath layed his life for thee.}

¹⁷ {cf2 The wicked despiseth the good deede of his suretie.}

¹⁸ {cf2 The wicked will not become suretie: and he that is of an vnthankfull minde, forsaketh him that deliuered him.}

¹⁹ {cf2 Some man promiseth for his neighbour: and when hee hath lost his honestie, hee will forsake him.}

²⁰ {cf2 Suretieship hath destroyed many a rich man, and remooued them as the waues of the sea: mightie men hath it driuen away from their houses, and caused them to wander among strange nations.}

²¹ {cf2 A wicked man, transgressing the commandements of the Lord, shall fall into suretieship: and hee that medleth much with other mens busines, is intangled in controuersies.}

²² {cf2 Helpe thy neighbour according to thy power, and beware that thou thy selfe fall not.}

²³ {cf2 The chiefe thing of life is water, & bread, and clothing, and lodging to couer thy shame.}

²⁴ {cf2 The poore mans life in his owne lodge is better then delicate fare in another mans.}

²⁵ {cf2 Be it litle or much, holde thee contented, that the house speake not euill of thee.}

²⁶ {cf2 For it is a miserable life to go from house to house: for where thou art a stranger, thou darest not open thy mouth.}

²⁷ {cf2 Thou shalt lodge and feede vnthankefull men, & after shalt haue bitter wordes for the same, saying,}

²⁸ {cf2 Come, thou stranger, and prepare the table, and feede me of that thou hast readie.}

²⁹ {cf2 Giue place, thou stranger, to an honourable man: my brother commeth to bee lodged, and I haue neede of mine house.}

³⁰ {cf2 These things are heauie to a man that hath vnderstanding, the vpbraiding of the house, and the reproche of the lender.}