Sirach 29

DOUAI-RHEIMS	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 He that sheweth mercy, lendeth to his neighbour: and he that is stronger in hand, keepeth the commandments.	1 He shows mercy who lends to his neighbor, for he keeps the commandments by strengthening him.
2 Lend to thy neighbour in the time of his need, and pay thou thy neighbour again in due time.	2 Lend to your neighbor in his time of need, and receive it again from your neighbor in his time.
3 Reap thy word, and deal faithfully with him: and thou shalt always find that which is necessary for thee.	3 Keep your word, and act faithfully with him, and then you will find whatever you need in every time.
4 Many have looked upon a thing lent as a thing found, and have given trouble to them that helped them.	4 Many have treated a loan like found money, and they offered trouble to those who helped them.
5 Till they receive, they kiss the hands of the lender, and in promises they humble their voice:	5 Until they receive, they kiss the hands of the giver, and they humble their voice in promises.
6 But when they should repay, they will ask time, and will return tedious and murmuring words, and will complain of 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.
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 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, he will defraud him of his money, and he shall get him for an enemy without cause:	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 pay him with reproaches and curses, and instead of honour and good turn will repay him injuries.	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 out of wickedness, but they were afraid to be defrauded without cause.	10 Many have refused to lend, not because of wickedness, but because they were afraid to be defrauded without cause.
11 But yet towards the poor be thou more hearty, and delay not to shew him mercy.	11 Yet truly, be more steadfast toward the humble, and you should not delay in acts of mercy toward them.
12 Help the poor because of the commandment: and send him not away empty handed because of his poverty.	12 Assist the poor because of the commandment. And you should not send him away empty because of his dire need.
13 Lose thy money for thy brother and thy friend: and hide it not under a stone to be lost.	13 Lose your money to your brother and your friend. For you should not hide it under a stone to be lost.
14 Place thy treasure in the commandments of the most High, and it shall bring thee more profit than gold.	14 Let your treasure be in the precepts of the Most High, and it will benefit you more than gold.
15 Shut up alms in the heart of the poor, and it shall obtain help for thee against all evil.	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 of the mighty, and better than the spear:	16 Better than the shield or the lance of a powerful man,
17 It shall fight for thee against thy enemy.	17 it will fight for you against your enemy.
18 A good man is surety for his neighbour: and he that hath lost shame, will leave him to himself.	18 A good man offers credit for the sake of his neighbor. But one who abandons him to himself will perish in shame.
19 Forget not the kindness of thy surety: for he hath given his life for thee.	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 fleeth from his surety.	20 The sinner and the unclean flee from such promises.
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 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 is surety for his neighbour: and when he hath lost all shame, he shall forsake him.	22 A man offers credit to his neighbor. But when he will have lost respect, he will abandon him.
23 Evil suretyship hath undone many of good estate, and hath tossed them as a wave of the sea.	23 A wicked promise has destroyed many who had good intentions, and has tossed them like a wave on the ocean.
24 It hath made powerful men to go from place to place round about, and they have wandered in strange countries.	24 It has caused powerful men to travel around, and they have wandered amid foreign nations.
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 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 Recover thy neighbour according to thy power, and take heed to thyself that thou fall not.	26 Help your neighbor to recover according to your ability, but attend to yourself, lest you also fall.
27 The chief thing for man's life is water and bread, and clothing, and a house to cover shame.	27 The primary need in a man’s life is water and bread, and clothing, and a house to protect modesty.
28 Better is the poor man's fare under a roof of boards, than sumptuous cheer abroad in another man's house.	28 A pauper’s food under a roof of boards is better than a splendid feast on a sojourn away from home.
29 Be contented with little instead of much, and thou shalt not hear the reproach of going abroad.	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 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.	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 shall entertain and feed, and give drink to the unthankful, and moreover he shall hear bitter words.	31 He will entertain, and feed, and give drink to the ungrateful, and beyond this, he will listen to bitter words:
32 Go, stranger, and furnish the table, and give others to eat what thou hast in thy hand.	32 “Go, my guest, and set the table, and let others eat from what you have in your hand.”
33 Give place to the honourable presence of my friends: for I want my house, my brother being to be lodged with me.	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 of understanding: the upbraiding of houseroom, and the reproaching of the lender.	34 These things are grievous to a man having understanding: to take advantage of a household, and to reproach a lender.