1 Chi è compassionevole presta al suo prossimo, e se lo sostiene per mano osserva i comandamenti. | 1 He shows mercy who lends to his neighbor, for he keeps the commandments by strengthening him. |
2 Presta al prossimo quando ha bisogno, d'altra parte sii puntuale nella restituzione. | 2 Lend to your neighbor in his time of need, and receive it again from your neighbor in his time. |
3 Mantieni la parola per meritarti la fiducia, e sempre troverai quanto t'occorre. | 3 Keep your word, and act faithfully with him, and then you will find whatever you need in every time. |
4 Molti considerano il prestito una cosa trovata, perciò poi stancano quanti li aiutano. | 4 Many have treated a loan like found money, and they offered trouble to those who helped them. |
5 Prima di prendere gli bacia le mani e parla sommesso del suo denaro; ma per restituire ritarda sempre, dicendo parole piene di negligenza e scusandosi che il tempo non è adatto. | 5 Until they receive, they kiss the hands of the giver, and they humble their voice in promises. |
6 Se riesce a pagare, a stento il creditore otterrà la metà, e può considerarla come trovata; se non può, froda il creditore del suo denaro e poi lo tratta da nemico; gli restituirà maledizioni e ingiurie, invece d'onore gli darà disprezzo. | 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 Molti, per questo danno, non vogliono far prestiti, perché temono una perdita senza loro colpa. | 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 Tu, però, largheggia con l'indigente, non temporeggiare per fargli l'elemosina. | 8 But if not, then he will defraud him of his money, and he will have him as an enemy without cause. |
9 A causa della legge cùrati del povero, non mandarlo a mani vuote quando ha bisogno. | 9 And he will repay him with accusations and curses, and he will repay him with contempt, instead of with honor and kindness. |
10 Perdi pure l'argento per il fratello e l'amico, invece che la ruggine lo consumi sotto la pietra. | 10 Many have refused to lend, not because of wickedness, but because they were afraid to be defrauded without cause. |
11 Usa la ricchezza come vuole l'Altissimo, così ti gioverà più dell'oro. | 11 Yet truly, be more steadfast toward the humble, and you should not delay in acts of mercy toward them. |
12 Sia l'elemosina ciò che conservi nei tuoi ripostigli, ti libererà da ogni disgrazia, | 12 Assist the poor because of the commandment. And you should not send him away empty because of his dire need. |
13 combatterà per te contro il nemico più che scudo robusto e lancia pesante. | 13 Lose your money to your brother and your friend. For you should not hide it under a stone to be lost. |
14 L'uomo dabbene garantisce per il prossimo, ma chi è senza pudore l'abbandona. | 14 Let your treasure be in the precepts of the Most High, and it will benefit you more than gold. |
15 Non dimenticare il favore che ti ha fatto il garante, perché egli si è impegnato per te. | 15 Store your alms in the hearts of the poor, and it will obtain help for you against all evil. |
16 Il peccatore rovina i beni del garante e l'ingrato abbandona chi l'ha salvato. | 16 Better than the shield or the lance of a powerful man, |
17 La cauzione ha rovinato molti benestanti, li ha sconvolti come onda del mare; | 17 it will fight for you against your enemy. |
18 ha sloggiato di casa uomini potenti, facendoli emigrare in terre straniere. | 18 A good man offers credit for the sake of his neighbor. But one who abandons him to himself will perish in shame. |
19 Per il peccatore è un'insidia il far garanzia, vi cerca il profitto ma finirà nei tribunali. | 19 You should not forget the kindness of your benefactor. For he has offered his life on your behalf. |
20 Preòccupati del prossimo quanto puoi, ma bada a non esserne rovinato. | 20 The sinner and the unclean flee from such promises. |
21 Questo basta per vivere: acqua, pane, mantello e una casa che copra la propria intimità. | 21 A sinner attributes to himself the goods of his loan. And an ungrateful mind will abandon the one who has freed him. |
22 Meglio vivere da povero al riparo di pochi legni, che mangiare sontuosamente in casa d'altri. | 22 A man offers credit to his neighbor. But when he will have lost respect, he will abandon him. |
23 Sii contento del poco o del molto che hai, e non sentirai il rimprovero perché sei straniero. | 23 A wicked promise has destroyed many who had good intentions, and has tossed them like a wave on the ocean. |
24 Brutta vita l'andare di casa in casa, dove sei ospite non puoi aprir bocca. | 24 It has caused powerful men to travel around, and they have wandered amid foreign nations. |
25 Devi accogliere gli ospiti, offrire da bere senza un grazie, per sentire poi cose amare: | 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 "Avanti, o forestiero, imbandisci la tavola, se hai qualcosa in mano, dammela a mangiare". | 26 Help your neighbor to recover according to your ability, but attend to yourself, lest you also fall. |
27 "Via, o forestiero, c'è uno più importante, ho ospite mio fratello, occorre la casa". | 27 The primary need in a man’s life is water and bread, and clothing, and a house to protect modesty. |
28 Per l'uomo che riflette son dure queste cose: essere disonorato da chi lo ospita e rimproverato dal creditore. | 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. |