ΣΟΦΙΑ ΣΕΙΡΑΧ - Siracide - Sirach 29

GREEK BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 ο ποιων ελεος δανιει τω πλησιον και ο επισχυων τη χειρι αυτου τηρει εντολας	1 He does a kindness who lends to his neighbor, and he fulfills the precepts who holds out a helping hand.
2 δανεισον τω πλησιον εν καιρω χρειας αυτου και παλιν αποδος τω πλησιον εις τον καιρον	2 Lend to your neighbor in his hour of need, and pay back your neighbor when a loan falls due;
3 στερεωσον λογον και πιστωθητι μετ' αυτου και εν παντι καιρω ευρησεις την χρειαν σου	3 Keep your promise, be honest with him, and you will always come by what you need.
4 πολλοι ως ευρεμα ενομισαν δανος και παρεσχον κοπον τοις βοηθησασιν αυτοις	4 Many a man who asks for a loan adds to the burdens of those who help him;
5 εως ου λαβη καταφιλησει χειρας αυτου και επι των χρηματων του πλησιον ταπεινωσει φωνην και εν καιρω αποδοσεως παρελκυσει χρονον και αποδωσει λογους ακηδιας και τον καιρον αιτιασεται	5 When he borrows, he kisses the lender's hand and speaks with respect of his creditor's wealth; But when payment is due he disappoints him and says he is helpless to meet the claim.
6 εαν ισχυση μολις κομισεται το ημισυ και λογιειται αυτο ως ευρεμα ει δε μη απεστερησεν αυτον των χρηματων αυτου και εκτησατο αυτον εχθρον δωρεαν καταρας και λοιδοριας αποδωσει αυτω και αντι δοξης αποδωσει αυτω ατιμιαν	6 If the lender is able to recover barely half, he considers this an achievement; If not, he is cheated of his wealth and acquires an enemy at no extra charge; With curses and insults the borrower pays him back, with abuse instead of honor.
7 πολλοι ου χαριν πονηριας απεστρεψαν αποστερηθηναι δωρεαν ευλαβηθησαν	7 Many refuse to lend, not out of meanness, but from fear of being cheated.
8 πλην επι ταπεινω μακροθυμησον και επ' ελεημοσυνη μη παρελκυσης αυτον	8 To a poor man, however, be generous; keep him not waiting for your alms;
9 χαριν εντολης αντιλαβου πενητος και κατα την ενδειαν αυτου μη αποστρεψης αυτον κενον	9 Because of the precept, help the needy, and in their want, do not send them away empty-handed.
10 απολεσον αργυριον δι' αδελφον και φιλον και μη ιωθητω υπο τον λιθον εις απωλειαν	10 Spend your money for your brother and friend, and hide it not under a stone to perish;
11 θες τον θησαυρον σου κατ' εντολας υψιστου και λυσιτελησει σοι μαλλον η το χρυσιον	11 Dispose of your treasure as the Most High commands, for that will profit you more than the gold.
12 συγκλεισον ελεημοσυνην εν τοις ταμιειοις σου και αυτη εξελειται σε εκ πασης κακωσεως	12 Store up almsgiving in your treasure house, and it will save you from every evil;
13 υπερ ασπιδα κρατους και υπερ δορυ ολκης κατεναντι εχθρου πολεμησει υπερ σου	13 Better than a stout shield and a sturdy spear it will fight for you against the foe.
14 ανηρ αγαθος εγγυησεται τον πλησιον και ο απολωλεκως αισχυνην εγκαταλειψει αυτον	14 A good man goes surety for his neighbor, and only the shameless would play him false;
15 χαριτας εγγυου μη επιλαθη εδωκεν γαρ την ψυχην αυτου υπερ σου	15 Forget not the kindness of your backer, for he offers his very life for you.
16 αγαθα εγγυου ανατρεψει αμαρτωλος και αχαριστος εν διανοια εγκαταλειψει ρυσαμενον	16 The wicked turn a pledge on their behalf into misfortune, and the ingrate abandons his protector;
17 εγγυη πολλους απωλεσεν κατευθυνοντας και εσαλευσεν αυτους ως κυμα θαλασσης	17 Going surety has ruined many prosperous men and tossed them about like waves of the sea,
18 ανδρας δυνατους απωκισεν και επλανηθησαν εν εθνεσιν αλλοτριοις	18 Has exiled men of prominence and sent them wandering through foreign lands.
19 αμαρτωλος εμπεσων εις εγγυην και διωκων εργολαβιας εμπεσειται εις κρισεις	19 The sinner through surety comes to grief, and he who undertakes too much falls into lawsuits.
20 αντιλαβου του πλησιον κατα δυναμιν σου και προσεχε σεαυτω μη εμπεσης	20 Go surety for your neighbor according to your means, but take care lest you fall thereby.
21 αρχη ζωης υδωρ και αρτος και ιματιον και οικος καλυπτων ασχημοσυνην	21 Life's prime needs are water, bread, and clothing, a house, too, for decent privacy.
22 κρεισσων βιος πτωχου υπο σκεπην δοκων η εδεσματα λαμπρα εν αλλοτριοις	22 Better a poor man's fare under the shadow of one's own roof than sumptuous banquets among strangers.
23 επι μικρω και μεγαλω ευδοκιαν εχε και ονειδισμον παροικιας ου μη ακουσης	23 Be it little or much, be content with what you have, and pay no heed to him who would disparage your home;
24 ζωη πονηρα εξ οικιας εις οικιαν και ου παροικησεις ουκ ανοιξεις στομα	24 A miserable life it is to go from house to house, for as a guest you dare not open your mouth.
25 ξενιεις και ποτιεις εις αχαριστα και προς επι τουτοις πικρα ακουση	25 The visitor has no thanks for filling the cups; besides, you will hear these bitter words:
26 παρελθε παροικε κοσμησον τραπεζαν και ει τι εν τη χειρι σου ψωμισον με	26 "Come here, stranger, set the table, give me to eat the food you have!
27 εξελθε παροικε απο προσωπου δοξης επεξενωται μοι ο αδελφος χρεια της οικιας	27 Away, stranger, for one more worthy; for my brother's visit I need the room!"
28 βαρεα ταυτα ανθρωπω εχοντι φρονησιν επιτιμησις οικιας και ονειδισμος δανειστου	28 Painful things to a sensitive man are abuse at home and insults from his creditors.