Sirach 29

¹ He does a kindness who lends to his neighbor, and he fulfills the precepts who holds out a helping hand.

² Lend to your neighbor in his hour of need, and pay back your neighbor when a loan falls due;

³ Keep your promise, be honest with him, and you will always come by what you need.

⁴ Many a man who asks for a loan adds to the burdens of those who help him;

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 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 refuse to lend, not out of meanness, but from fear of being cheated.

⁸ To a poor man, however, be generous; keep him not waiting for your alms;

⁹ Because of the precept, help the needy, and in their want, do not send them away empty-handed.

¹⁰ Spend your money for your brother and friend, and hide it not under a stone to perish;

¹¹ Dispose of your treasure as the Most High commands, for that will profit you more than the gold.

¹² Store up almsgiving in your treasure house, and it will save you from every evil;

¹³ Better than a stout shield and a sturdy spear it will fight for you against the foe.

¹⁴ A good man goes surety for his neighbor, and only the shameless would play him false;

¹⁵ Forget not the kindness of your backer, for he offers his very life for you.

¹⁶ The wicked turn a pledge on their behalf into misfortune, and the ingrate abandons his protector;

¹⁷ Going surety has ruined many prosperous men and tossed them about like waves of the sea,

¹⁸ Has exiled men of prominence and sent them wandering through foreign lands.

¹⁹ The sinner through surety comes to grief, and he who undertakes too much falls into lawsuits.

²⁰ Go surety for your neighbor according to your means, but take care lest you fall thereby.

²¹ Life's prime needs are water, bread, and clothing, a house, too, for decent privacy.

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, be content with what you have, and pay no heed to him who would disparage your home;

²⁴ A miserable life it is to go from house to house, for as a guest you dare not open your mouth.

²⁵ The visitor has no thanks for filling the cups; besides, you will hear these bitter words:

²⁶ "Come here, stranger, set the table, give me to eat the food you have!

²⁷ Away, stranger, for one more worthy; for my brother's visit I need the room!"

²⁸ Painful things to a sensitive man are abuse at home and insults from his creditors.