The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus 29

¹ He that is merciful will lend unto his neighbour and he that strengtheneth his hand keepeth the commandments ⚑

² Lend to thy neighbour in time of his need and pay thou thy neighbour again in due season ⚑

³ Keep thy word and deal faithfully with him and thou shalt always find the thing that is necessary for thee ⚑

⁴ Many when a thing was lent them reckoned it to be found and put them to trouble that helped them ⚑

⁵ Till he hath received he will kis a man’s hand and for his ne hbour’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 ⚑

⁶ If 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 ⚑

⁷ Many therefore have refused to lend for ot r men’s ill dealing fearing to be defrauded ⚑

⁸ Yet have thou patience with a man in poor estate and delay not to shew him mercy ⚑

⁹ Help the poor for the comm dment’s sake and turn him not away because of his poverty ⚑

¹⁰ Lose thy money for thy brother and thy friend and let it not rust under a stone to be lost ⚑

¹¹ Lay up thy treasure according to the commandments of the most High and it shall bring thee more profit than gold ⚑

¹² Shut up alms in thy storehouses and it shall deliver thee from all affliction ⚑

¹³ It shall fight for thee against thine enemies better than a mighty shield and strong spear ⚑

¹⁴ An honest man is surety for his neighbour but he that is impudent will forsake him ⚑

¹⁵ Forget not the friendship of thy surety for he hath given his life for thee ⚑

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

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

¹⁸ Suretiship 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 ⚑

¹⁹ A wicked man transgressing the commandments of the Lord shall fall into suretiship and he that undertaketh and followeth ot r men’s business for gain shall fall into suits ⚑

²⁰ Help thy neighbour according to thy power and beware that thou thyself fall not into the same ⚑

²¹ The chief thing for life is water and bread and clothing and an house to cover shame ⚑

²² Better is the life of a poor man in a mean cottage than delicate fare in anot r man’s house ⚑

²³ Be it little or much hold thee contented that thou hear not the reproach of thy house ⚑

²⁴ For it is a miserable life to go from house to house for where thou art a stranger thou darest not open thy mouth ⚑

²⁵ Thou shalt entertain and feast and have no thanks moreover thou shalt hear bitter words ⚑

²⁶ Come thou stranger and furnish a table and feed me of that thou hast ready ⚑

²⁷ Give place thou stranger to an honourable man my brother cometh to be lodged and I have need of mine house ⚑

²⁸ These things are grievous to a man of understanding the upbraiding of houseroom and reproaching of the lender ⚑