Sirach 29

DOUAI-RHEIMS	EL LIBRO DEL PUEBLO DE DIOS
1 He that sheweth mercy, lendeth to his neighbour: and he that is stronger in hand, keepeth the commandments.	1 El que practica la misericordia presta a su prójimo, y el que acude en su ayuda observa los mandamientos.
2 Lend to thy neighbour in the time of his need, and pay thou thy neighbour again in due time.	2 Presta a tu prójimo cuando esté necesitado, y restitúyele a tu vez en el momento convenido.
3 Reap thy word, and deal faithfully with him: and thou shalt always find that which is necessary for thee.	3 Cumple tu palabra y sé leal con él, y encontrarás en todo momento lo que necesites.
4 Many have looked upon a thing lent as a thing found, and have given trouble to them that helped them.	4 Muchos consideran el préstamo como una ganga y ponen en aprietos a quienes los han ayudado.
5 Till they receive, they kiss the hands of the lender, and in promises they humble their voice:	5 Hasta que reciben, besan las manos de la gente y hablan con humildad de las riquezas del prójimo, pero en el momento de restituir, piden prórroga, sólo devuelven con palabras quejumbrosas y echan la culpa a las circunstancias.
6 But when they should repay, they will ask time, and will return tedious and murmuring words, and will complain of the time:	6 Si llegan a pagar, el acreedor recibe apenas la mitad y tiene que aceptarlo como un favor. Si no, lo despojan de sus riquezas, y él se gana inútilmente un enemigo que le paga con maldiciones e insultos y le devuelve desprecio en vez de honrarlo.
7 And if he be able to pay, he will stand off, he will scarce pay one half, and will count it as if he had found it:	7 Así, muchos se niegan a prestar, no por maldad, sino por temor a ser despojados sin razón.
8 But if not, he will defraud him of his money, and he shall get him for an enemy without cause:	8 Pero tú sé indulgente con el humilde y no le hagas esperar tu limosna.
9 And he will pay him with reproaches and curses, and instead of honour and good turn will repay him injuries.	9 Socorre al pobre para cumplir el mandamiento y, en su indigencia, no lo despidas con las manos vacías.
10 Many have refused to lend, not out of wickedness, but they were afraid to be defrauded without cause.	10 Pierde tu dinero por un hermano y un amigo: que no se herrumbre bajo una piedra y lo pierdas.
11 But yet towards the poor be thou more hearty, and delay not to shew him mercy.	11 Deposita tu tesoro según los mandamientos del Altísimo y te reportará más provecho que el oro;
12 Help the poor because of the commandment: and send him not away empty handed because of his poverty.	12 que el tesoro encerrado en tus graneros sea la limosna, y ella te preservará de todo mal:
13 Lose thy money for thy brother and thy friend: and hide it not under a stone to be lost.	13 mejor que un fuerte escudo y una lanza pesada combatirá a tu favor frente al enemigo.
14 Place thy treasure in the commandments of the most High, and it shall bring thee more profit than gold.	14 El hombre de bien sale fiador de su prójimo, pero el que perdió la vergüenza lo deja abandonado.
15 Shut up alms in the heart of the poor, and it shall obtain help for thee against all evil.	15 No olvides los favores de tu fiador, porque él ha expuesto su vida por ti.
16 Better than the shield of the mighty, and better than the spear:	16 El pecador dilapida los bienes de su fiador y el desagradecido abandona al que lo salvó.
17 It shall fight for thee against thy enemy.	17 La fianza perdió a muchos que vivían prósperamente, los sacudió como una ola del mar;
18 A good man is surety for his neighbour: and he that hath lost shame, will leave him to himself.	18 obligó a expatriarse a hombres poderosos, que anduvieron fugitivos por países extraños.
19 Forget not the kindness of thy surety: for he hath given his life for thee.	19 El pecador que se ofrece como fiador y busca ventaja, se expone a ser procesado.
20 The sinner and the unclean fleeth from his surety.	20 Socorre a tu prójimo en la medida de tus recursos, pero ten cuidado de no arruinarte.
21 A sinner attributeth to himself the goods of his surety: and he that is of an unthankful mind will leave him that delivered him.	21 Lo esencial para la vida es el agua, el pan, la ropa, y una casa para albergarse dignamente.
22 A man is surety for his neighbour: and when he hath lost all shame, he shall forsake him.	22 Más vale vida de pobre en una cabaña que comida exquisita en casa ajena.
23 Evil suretyship hath undone many of good estate, and hath tossed them as a wave of the sea.	23 Conténtate con lo que tienes, sea poco o mucho, y no oirás que te reprochan por ser un extraño.
24 It hath made powerful men to go from place to place round about, and they have wandered in strange countries.	24 Triste vida es andar de casa en casa: donde eres un extraño, no puedes abrir la boca.
25 A sinner that transgresseth the commandment of the Lord, shall fall into an evil suretyship: and he that undertaketh many things, shall fall into judgment.	25 Sirves de comer y beber a gente desagradecida, y encima tienes que oír cosas amargas:
26 Recover thy neighbour according to thy power, and take heed to thyself that thou fall not.	26 –Ven aquí, forastero, prepara la mesa, y si tienes algo a mano, dame de comer».
27 The chief thing for man's life is water and bread, and clothing, and a house to cover shame.	27 –»Deja el lugar para alguien más importante; mi hermano viene a hospedarse, y necesito la casa».
28 Better is the poor man's fare under a roof of boards, than sumptuous cheer abroad in another man's house.	28 ¡Qué duro es para un hombre sensible que le reprochen la hospitalidad y le echen en cara una deuda!
29 Be contented with little instead of much, and thou shalt not hear the reproach of going abroad.
30 It is a miserable life to go as a guest from house to house: for where a man is a stranger, he shall not deal confidently, nor open his mouth.
31 He shall entertain and feed, and give drink to the unthankful, and moreover he shall hear bitter words.
32 Go, stranger, and furnish the table, and give others to eat what thou hast in thy hand.
33 Give place to the honourable presence of my friends: for I want my house, my brother being to be lodged with me.
34 These things are grievous to a man of understanding: the upbraiding of houseroom, and the reproaching of the lender.