Sirach 29

¹ He shows mercy who lends to his neighbor, for he keeps the commandments by strengthening him.

² Lend to your neighbor in his time of need, and receive it again from your neighbor in his time.

³ Keep your word, and act faithfully with him, and then you will find whatever you need in every time.

⁴ Many have treated a loan like found money, and they offered trouble to those who helped them.

⁵ Until they receive, they kiss the hands of the giver, and they humble their voice in promises.

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 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 But if not, then he will defraud him of his money, and he will have him as an enemy without cause.

⁹ And he will repay him with accusations and curses, and he will repay him with contempt, instead of with honor and kindness.

¹⁰ Many have refused to lend, not because of wickedness, but because they were afraid to be defrauded without cause.

¹¹ Yet truly, be more steadfast toward the humble, and you should not delay in acts of mercy toward them.

¹² Assist the poor because of the commandment. And you should not send him away empty because of his dire need.

¹³ Lose your money to your brother and your friend. For you should not hide it under a stone to be lost.

¹⁴ Let your treasure be in the precepts of the Most High, and it will benefit you more than gold.

¹⁵ Store your alms in the hearts of the poor, and it will obtain help for you against all evil.

¹⁶ Better than the shield or the lance of a powerful man,

¹⁷ it will fight for you against your enemy.

¹⁸ A good man offers credit for the sake of his neighbor. But one who abandons him to himself will perish in shame.

¹⁹ You should not forget the kindness of your benefactor. For he has offered his life on your behalf.

²⁰ The sinner and the unclean flee from such promises.

²¹ A sinner attributes to himself the goods of his loan. And an ungrateful mind will abandon the one who has freed him.

²² A man offers credit to his neighbor. But when he will have lost respect, he will abandon him.

²³ A wicked promise has destroyed many who had good intentions, and has tossed them like a wave on the ocean.

²⁴ It has caused powerful men to travel around, and they have wandered amid foreign nations.

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 Help your neighbor to recover according to your ability, but attend to yourself, lest you also fall.

²⁷ The primary need in a man’s life is water and bread, and clothing, and a house to protect modesty.

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.