Ecclesiasticus 29

NOVA VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Qui facit misericordiam, feneratur proximo suo; et, qui confortat manu, mandata servat.	1 He does a kindness who lends to his neighbor, and he fulfills the precepts who holds out a helping hand.
2 Fenerare proximo tuo in tempore necessitatis illius et iterum redde proximo in tempore suo.	2 Lend to your neighbor in his hour of need, and pay back your neighbor when a loan falls due;
3 Confirma verbum et fideliter age cum illo, et omni tempore invenies, quod tibi necessarium est.	3 Keep your promise, be honest with him, and you will always come by what you need.
4 Multi quasi inventionem aestimaverunt fenus et praestiterunt molestiam his, qui se adiuverunt.	4 Many a man who asks for a loan adds to the burdens of those who help him;
5 Donec accipiat, osculatur manus dantis et de possessionibus proximi humiliat vocem suam;	5 When he borrows, he kisses the lender's hand and speaks with respect of his creditor's wealth; But when payment is due he disappoints him and says he is helpless to meet the claim.
6 et in tempore redditionis postulabit tempus, et reddet verba taedii et murmurationum et tempus causabitur.	6 If the lender is able to recover barely half, he considers this an achievement; If not, he is cheated of his wealth and acquires an enemy at no extra charge; With curses and insults the borrower pays him back, with abuse instead of honor.
7 Si autem potuerit reddere, adversabitur; solidi vix reddet dimidium et computabit illud quasi inventionem.	7 Many refuse to lend, not out of meanness, but from fear of being cheated.
8 Sin autem, fraudabit illum pecunia sua et possidebit illum inimicum gratis.	8 To a poor man, however, be generous; keep him not waiting for your alms;
9 Et convicia et maledicta reddet illi et pro honore et beneficio reddet illi contumeliam.	9 Because of the precept, help the needy, and in their want, do not send them away empty-handed.
10 Multi non causa nequitiae non fenerati sunt, sed fraudari gratis timuerunt.	10 Spend your money for your brother and friend, and hide it not under a stone to perish;
11 Verumtamen super humilem longanimis esto et pro eleemosyna non trahas illum.	11 Dispose of your treasure as the Most High commands, for that will profit you more than the gold.
12 Propter mandatum assume pauperem et propter inopiam eius ne dimittas eum vacuum.	12 Store up almsgiving in your treasure house, and it will save you from every evil;
13 Perde pecuniam propter fratrem et amicum tuum et non abscondas illam sub lapide in perditionem.	13 Better than a stout shield and a sturdy spear it will fight for you against the foe.
14 Pone thesaurum tuum in praeceptis Altissimi, et proderit tibi magis quam aurum.	14 A good man goes surety for his neighbor, and only the shameless would play him false;
15 Conclude eleemosynam in corde pauperis, et haec pro te exorabit ab omni malo.	15 Forget not the kindness of your backer, for he offers his very life for you.
16 .	16 The wicked turn a pledge on their behalf into misfortune, and the ingrate abandons his protector;
17	17 Going surety has ruined many prosperous men and tossed them about like waves of the sea,
18 Super scutum roboris et super lanceam ponderis adversus inimicum tuum pugnabit pro te.	18 Has exiled men of prominence and sent them wandering through foreign lands.
19 Vir bonus fidem facit pro proximo suo; et, qui perdiderit confusionem, fugiet repromissorem.	19 The sinner through surety comes to grief, and he who undertakes too much falls into lawsuits.
20 Gratiam fideiussoris ne obliviscaris: dedit enim pro te animam suam.	20 Go surety for your neighbor according to your means, but take care lest you fall thereby.
21	21 Life's prime needs are water, bread, and clothing, a house, too, for decent privacy.
22 Bona repromissoris dissipabit peccator, et ingratus sensu derelinquet liberantem se.	22 Better a poor man's fare under the shadow of one's own roof than sumptuous banquets among strangers.
23	23 Be it little or much, be content with what you have, and pay no heed to him who would disparage your home;
24 Repromissio multos perdidit recte agentes et commovit illos quasi fluctus maris;	24 A miserable life it is to go from house to house, for as a guest you dare not open your mouth.
25 viros potentes transmigrare fecit, et vagati sunt in gentibus alienis.	25 The visitor has no thanks for filling the cups; besides, you will hear these bitter words:
26 Peccator transgrediens mandata Domini incidet in repromissionem, et, qui conatur lucrum sectari, incidet in iudicium.	26 "Come here, stranger, set the table, give me to eat the food you have!
27 Sponde pro proximo secundum virtutem tuam, sed attende tibi, ne incidas.	27 Away, stranger, for one more worthy; for my brother's visit I need the room!"
28 Initium vitae hominis aqua et panis et vestimentum et domus protegens turpitudinem.	28 Painful things to a sensitive man are abuse at home and insults from his creditors.
29 Melior est victus pauperis sub tegmine asserum quam epulae splendidae in peregre sine domicilio.
30 Super parvo et magno placeat tibi, et improperium peregrinationis non audies.
31 Vita nequam hospitandi de domo in domum, et ubi hospitabitur, non fiducialiter aget, nec aperiet os.
32 Hospitaberis et pasceris et potaberis sine gratia, et ad haec amara audiet:
33 “ Transi, hospes, et orna mensam et, si quae in manu habes, ciba me! ”.
34 “ Exi a facie honoratioris! Necessitudine domus meae hospitio mihi factus est frater ”.
35 Gravia haec homini habenti sensum: obiurgatio peregrinationis et improperium feneratoris.