Sirach 29

^aHe that is merciful will lend unto his neighbour;

And he that strengtheneth his hand ^bkeepeth the commandments.

^2aLend to thy neighbour in time of his need,

And pay thou thy neighbour again in due season.

³Keep thy word, and deal faithfully with him,

And thou shalt always find the thing that is necessary for thee.

^4cMany, when a thing was lent them, reckoned it ^dto be found,

And ^eput them to trouble that helped them.

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 prevail, he shall hardly receive the half,

And he will count ^das 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 therefore have refused to lend for other men’s ill dealing,

Fearing to be defrauded.

⁸Yet have thou patience with a man in poor estate,

And delay not to shew him mercy.

⁹Help the poor ^ffor the commandment’s sake,

And turn him not away because of his poverty.

¹⁰Lose thy money for thy brother and thy friend,

And ^glet it not rust under a stone to be lost.

^11hLay up thy treasure ⁱaccording to the commandments of the most High,

And ^jit shall bring thee more profit than gold.

^12kShut up alms in thy ^lstorehouses:

And it shall deliver thee from all affliction.

^13mIt shall fight for thee against thine enemies

Better than a mighty shield and strong spear.

¹⁴An honest man is surety for his neighbour:

But he that is impudent will ⁿforsake him.

¹⁵Forget not the friendship of thy surety,

For he hath given ^ohis life for thee.

¹⁶A sinner will overthrow the good estate of his surety:

¹⁷And he that is of an unthankful mind will leave him in danger that delivered him.

^18pSuretiship hath undone many of good estate,

And shaked them as a wave of the sea:

Mighty men hath it driven from their houses,

So that they wandered among strange nations.

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 thy neighbour according to thy power,

And beware that thou thyself fall not into the same.

²¹The ^qchief thing for life is water, and ^rbread,

And clothing, and a house to cover shame.

²²Better is the life of a poor man in a mean cottage,

Than delicate fare in another man’s house.

^23rBe it little or much, hold thee contented,

That thou hear not the reproach of thy house.

²⁴For it is a miserable life to go from house to house:

For where thou art a stranger, thou darest not open thy mouth.

²⁵Thou shalt entertain, and feast, and have no thanks:

Moreover, thou shalt hear bitter words:

^26sCome, thou stranger, and furnish a table,

And feed me of that thou hast ready.

^27tGive 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;

^uThe upbraiding of houseroom, and ^xreproaching of the lender.

XXX.