Sirach 29

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
1 He shows mercy who lends to his neighbor, for he keeps the commandments by strengthening him.	1 He that shows mercy will lend to his neighbor, and he that strengthens him with his hand keeps the commandments.
2 Lend to your neighbor in his time of need, and receive it again from your neighbor in his time.	2 Lend to your neighbor in the time of his need; and in turn, repay your neighbor promptly.
3 Keep your word, and act faithfully with him, and then you will find whatever you need in every time.	3 Confirm your word and keep faith with him, and on every occasion you will find what you need.
4 Many have treated a loan like found money, and they offered trouble to those who helped them.	4 Many persons regard a loan as a windfall, and cause trouble to those who help them.
5 Until they receive, they kiss the hands of the giver, and they humble their voice in promises.	5 A man will kiss another's hands until he gets a loan, and will lower his voice in speaking of his neighbor's money; but at the time for repayment he will delay, and will pay in words of unconcern, and will find fault with the time.
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.	6 If the lender exert pressure, he will hardly get back half, and will regard that as a windfall. If he does not, the borrower has robbed him of his money, and he has needlessly made him his enemy; he will repay him with curses and reproaches, and instead of glory will repay him with dishonor.
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.	7 Because of such wickedness, therefore, many have refused to lend; they have been afraid of being defrauded needlessly.
8 But if not, then he will defraud him of his money, and he will have him as an enemy without cause.	8 Nevertheless, be patient with a man in humble circumstances, and do not make him wait for your alms.
9 And he will repay him with accusations and curses, and he will repay him with contempt, instead of with honor and kindness.	9 Help a poor man for the commandment's sake, and because of his need do not send him away empty.
10 Many have refused to lend, not because of wickedness, but because they were afraid to be defrauded without cause.	10 Lose your silver for the sake of a brother or a friend, and do not let it rust under a stone and be lost.
11 Yet truly, be more steadfast toward the humble, and you should not delay in acts of mercy toward them.	11 Lay up your treasure according to the commandments of the Most High, and it will profit you more than gold.
12 Assist the poor because of the commandment. And you should not send him away empty because of his dire need.	12 Store up almsgiving in your treasury, and it will rescue you from all affliction;
13 Lose your money to your brother and your friend. For you should not hide it under a stone to be lost.	13 more than a mighty shield and more than a heavy spear, it will fight on your behalf against your enemy.
14 Let your treasure be in the precepts of the Most High, and it will benefit you more than gold.	14 A good man will be surety for his neighbor, but a man who has lost his sense of shame will fail him.
15 Store your alms in the hearts of the poor, and it will obtain help for you against all evil.	15 Do not forget all the kindness of your surety, for he has given his life for you.
16 Better than the shield or the lance of a powerful man,	16 A sinner will overthrow the prosperity of his surety,
17 it will fight for you against your enemy.	17 and one who does not feel grateful will abandon his rescuer.
18 A good man offers credit for the sake of his neighbor. But one who abandons him to himself will perish in shame.	18 Being surety has ruined many men who were prosperous, and has shaken them like a wave of the sea; it has driven men of power into exile, and they have wandered among foreign nations.
19 You should not forget the kindness of your benefactor. For he has offered his life on your behalf.	19 The sinner who has fallen into suretyship and pursues gain will fall into lawsuits.
20 The sinner and the unclean flee from such promises.	20 Assist your neighbor according to your ability, but take heed to yourself lest you fall.
21 A sinner attributes to himself the goods of his loan. And an ungrateful mind will abandon the one who has freed him.	21 The essentials for life are water and bread and clothing and a house to cover one's nakedness.
22 A man offers credit to his neighbor. But when he will have lost respect, he will abandon him.	22 Better is the life of a poor man under the shelter of his roof than sumptuous food in another man's house.
23 A wicked promise has destroyed many who had good intentions, and has tossed them like a wave on the ocean.	23 Be content with little or much.
24 It has caused powerful men to travel around, and they have wandered amid foreign nations.	24 It is a miserable life to go from house to house, and where you are a stranger you may not open your mouth;
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.	25 you will play the host and provide drink without being thanked, and besides this you will hear bitter words:
26 Help your neighbor to recover according to your ability, but attend to yourself, lest you also fall.	26 "Come here, stranger, prepare the table, and if you have anything at hand, let me have it to eat."
27 The primary need in a man’s life is water and bread, and clothing, and a house to protect modesty.	27 "Give place, stranger, to an honored person; my brother has come to stay with me; I need my house."
28 A pauper’s food under a roof of boards is better than a splendid feast on a sojourn away from home.	28 These things are hard to bear for a man who has feeling: scolding about lodging and the reproach of the moneylender.
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.