Sirach 29

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 He that is merciful will lend unto his neighbour; and he that strengtheneth his hand keepeth the commandments.	1 He does a kindness who lends to his neighbor, and he fulfills the precepts who holds out a helping hand.
2 Lend to thy neighbour in time of his need, and pay thou thy neighbour again in due season.	2 Lend to your neighbor in his hour of need, and pay back your neighbor when a loan falls due;
3 Keep thy word, and deal faithfully with him, and thou shalt always find the thing that is necessary for thee.	3 Keep your promise, be honest with him, and you will always come by what you need.
4 Many, when a thing was lent them, reckoned it to be found, and put them to trouble that helped them.	4 Many a man who asks for a loan adds to the burdens of those who help him;
5 Till 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.	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 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.	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 Many therefore have refused to lend for other men's ill dealing, fearing to be defrauded.	7 Many refuse to lend, not out of meanness, but from fear of being cheated.
8 Yet have thou patience with a man in poor estate, and delay not to shew him mercy.	8 To a poor man, however, be generous; keep him not waiting for your alms;
9 Help the poor for the commandment's sake, and turn him not away because of his poverty.	9 Because of the precept, help the needy, and in their want, do not send them away empty-handed.
10 Lose thy money for thy brother and thy friend, and let it not rust under a stone to be lost.	10 Spend your money for your brother and friend, and hide it not under a stone to perish;
11 Lay up thy treasure according to the commandments of the most High, and it shall bring thee more profit than gold.	11 Dispose of your treasure as the Most High commands, for that will profit you more than the gold.
12 Shut up alms in thy storehouses: and it shall deliver thee from all affliction.	12 Store up almsgiving in your treasure house, and it will save you from every evil;
13 It shall fight for thee against thine enemies better than a mighty shield and strong spear.	13 Better than a stout shield and a sturdy spear it will fight for you against the foe.
14 An honest man is surety for his neighbour: but he that is impudent will forsake him.	14 A good man goes surety for his neighbor, and only the shameless would play him false;
15 Forget not the friendship of thy surety, for he hath given his life for thee.	15 Forget not the kindness of your backer, for he offers his very life for you.
16 A sinner will overthrow the good estate of his surety:	16 The wicked turn a pledge on their behalf into misfortune, and the ingrate abandons his protector;
17 And he that is of an unthankful mind will leave him [in danger] that delivered him.	17 Going surety has ruined many prosperous men and tossed them about like waves of the sea,
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.	18 Has exiled men of prominence and sent them wandering through foreign lands.
19 A 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.	19 The sinner through surety comes to grief, and he who undertakes too much falls into lawsuits.
20 Help thy neighbour according to thy power, and beware that thou thyself fall not into the same.	20 Go surety for your neighbor according to your means, but take care lest you fall thereby.
21 The chief thing for life is water, and bread, and clothing, and an house to cover shame.	21 Life's prime needs are water, bread, and clothing, a house, too, for decent privacy.
22 Better is the life of a poor man in a mean cottage, than delicate fare in another man's house.	22 Better a poor man's fare under the shadow of one's own roof than sumptuous banquets among strangers.
23 Be it little or much, hold thee contented, that thou hear not the reproach of thy house.	23 Be it little or much, be content with what you have, and pay no heed to him who would disparage your home;
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.	24 A miserable life it is to go from house to house, for as a guest you dare not open your mouth.
25 Thou shalt entertain, and feast, and have no thanks: moreover thou shalt hear bitter words:	25 The visitor has no thanks for filling the cups; besides, you will hear these bitter words:
26 Come, thou stranger, and furnish a table, and feed me of that thou hast ready.	26 "Come here, stranger, set the table, give me to eat the food you have!
27 Give place, thou stranger, to an honourable man; my brother cometh to be lodged, and I have need of mine house.	27 Away, stranger, for one more worthy; for my brother's visit I need the room!"
28 These things are grievous to a man of understanding; the upbraiding of houseroom, and reproaching of the lender.	28 Painful things to a sensitive man are abuse at home and insults from his creditors.