Sirach 29

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 He does a kindness who lends to his neighbor, and he fulfills the precepts who holds out a helping hand.	1 He shows mercy who lends to his neighbor, for he keeps the commandments by strengthening him.
2 Lend to your neighbor in his hour of need, and pay back your neighbor when a loan falls due;	2 Lend to your neighbor in his time of need, and receive it again from your neighbor in his time.
3 Keep your promise, be honest with him, and you will always come by what you need.	3 Keep your word, and act faithfully with him, and then you will find whatever you need in every time.
4 Many a man who asks for a loan adds to the burdens of those who help him;	4 Many have treated a loan like found money, and they offered trouble to those who helped them.
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.	5 Until they receive, they kiss the hands of the giver, and they humble their voice in promises.
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.	6 But at the time of repayment, they will ask for more time, and they will speak annoying and complaining words, and they will make excuses for the time.
7 Many refuse to lend, not out of meanness, but from fear of being cheated.	7 Then, if he is able to repay, he will turn away. He will pay barely one half, and he will consider it as if he had found it.
8 To a poor man, however, be generous; keep him not waiting for your alms;	8 But if not, then he will defraud him of his money, and he will have him as an enemy without cause.
9 Because of the precept, help the needy, and in their want, do not send them away empty-handed.	9 And he will repay him with accusations and curses, and he will repay him with contempt, instead of with honor and kindness.
10 Spend your money for your brother and friend, and hide it not under a stone to perish;	10 Many have refused to lend, not because of wickedness, but because they were afraid to be defrauded without cause.
11 Dispose of your treasure as the Most High commands, for that will profit you more than the gold.	11 Yet truly, be more steadfast toward the humble, and you should not delay in acts of mercy toward them.
12 Store up almsgiving in your treasure house, and it will save you from every evil;	12 Assist the poor because of the commandment. And you should not send him away empty because of his dire need.
13 Better than a stout shield and a sturdy spear it will fight for you against the foe.	13 Lose your money to your brother and your friend. For you should not hide it under a stone to be lost.
14 A good man goes surety for his neighbor, and only the shameless would play him false;	14 Let your treasure be in the precepts of the Most High, and it will benefit you more than gold.
15 Forget not the kindness of your backer, for he offers his very life for you.	15 Store your alms in the hearts of the poor, and it will obtain help for you against all evil.
16 The wicked turn a pledge on their behalf into misfortune, and the ingrate abandons his protector;	16 Better than the shield or the lance of a powerful man,
17 Going surety has ruined many prosperous men and tossed them about like waves of the sea,	17 it will fight for you against your enemy.
18 Has exiled men of prominence and sent them wandering through foreign lands.	18 A good man offers credit for the sake of his neighbor. But one who abandons him to himself will perish in shame.
19 The sinner through surety comes to grief, and he who undertakes too much falls into lawsuits.	19 You should not forget the kindness of your benefactor. For he has offered his life on your behalf.
20 Go surety for your neighbor according to your means, but take care lest you fall thereby.	20 The sinner and the unclean flee from such promises.
21 Life's prime needs are water, bread, and clothing, a house, too, for decent privacy.	21 A sinner attributes to himself the goods of his loan. And an ungrateful mind will abandon the one who has freed him.
22 Better a poor man's fare under the shadow of one's own roof than sumptuous banquets among strangers.	22 A man offers credit to his neighbor. But when he will have lost respect, he will abandon him.
23 Be it little or much, be content with what you have, and pay no heed to him who would disparage your home;	23 A wicked promise has destroyed many who had good intentions, and has tossed them like a wave on the ocean.
24 A miserable life it is to go from house to house, for as a guest you dare not open your mouth.	24 It has caused powerful men to travel around, and they have wandered amid foreign nations.
25 The visitor has no thanks for filling the cups; besides, you will hear these bitter words:	25 A sinner transgressing the commandment of the Lord will fall into a wicked promise. And he who undertakes many things will fall into judgment.
26 "Come here, stranger, set the table, give me to eat the food you have!	26 Help your neighbor to recover according to your ability, but attend to yourself, lest you also fall.
27 Away, stranger, for one more worthy; for my brother's visit I need the room!"	27 The primary need in a man’s life is water and bread, and clothing, and a house to protect modesty.
28 Painful things to a sensitive man are abuse at home and insults from his creditors.	28 A pauper’s food under a roof of boards is better than a splendid feast on a sojourn away from home.
	29 Let yourself be pleased with little instead of much, and you will not hear the reproach of being away from home.
	30 It is a wicked life to go from house to house as a guest. For wherever he is a guest, he will not act confidently, nor open his mouth.
	31 He will entertain, and feed, and give drink to the ungrateful, and beyond this, he will listen to bitter words:
	32 “Go, my guest, and set the table, and let others eat from what you have in your hand.”
	33 “Depart from the honored face of my friends. For it has become necessary for my house to host my brother instead.”
	34 These things are grievous to a man having understanding: to take advantage of a household, and to reproach a lender.