ΣΟΦΙΑ ΣΕΙΡΑΧ - Siracide - Sirach 29

GREEK BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 ο ποιων ελεος δανιει τω πλησιον και ο επισχυων τη χειρι αυτου τηρει εντολας	1 He shows mercy who lends to his neighbor, for he keeps the commandments by strengthening him.
2 δανεισον τω πλησιον εν καιρω χρειας αυτου και παλιν αποδος τω πλησιον εις τον καιρον	2 Lend to your neighbor in his time of need, and receive it again from your neighbor in his time.
3 στερεωσον λογον και πιστωθητι μετ' αυτου και εν παντι καιρω ευρησεις την χρειαν σου	3 Keep your word, and act faithfully with him, and then you will find whatever you need in every time.
4 πολλοι ως ευρεμα ενομισαν δανος και παρεσχον κοπον τοις βοηθησασιν αυτοις	4 Many have treated a loan like found money, and they offered trouble to those who helped them.
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 Until they receive, they kiss the hands of the giver, and they humble their voice in promises.
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 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 πολλοι ου χαριν πονηριας απεστρεψαν αποστερηθηναι δωρεαν ευλαβηθησαν	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 πλην επι ταπεινω μακροθυμησον και επ' ελεημοσυνη μη παρελκυσης αυτον	8 But if not, then he will defraud him of his money, and he will have him as an enemy without cause.
9 χαριν εντολης αντιλαβου πενητος και κατα την ενδειαν αυτου μη αποστρεψης αυτον κενον	9 And he will repay him with accusations and curses, and he will repay him with contempt, instead of with honor and kindness.
10 απολεσον αργυριον δι' αδελφον και φιλον και μη ιωθητω υπο τον λιθον εις απωλειαν	10 Many have refused to lend, not because of wickedness, but because they were afraid to be defrauded without cause.
11 θες τον θησαυρον σου κατ' εντολας υψιστου και λυσιτελησει σοι μαλλον η το χρυσιον	11 Yet truly, be more steadfast toward the humble, and you should not delay in acts of mercy toward them.
12 συγκλεισον ελεημοσυνην εν τοις ταμιειοις σου και αυτη εξελειται σε εκ πασης κακωσεως	12 Assist the poor because of the commandment. And you should not send him away empty because of his dire need.
13 υπερ ασπιδα κρατους και υπερ δορυ ολκης κατεναντι εχθρου πολεμησει υπερ σου	13 Lose your money to your brother and your friend. For you should not hide it under a stone to be lost.
14 ανηρ αγαθος εγγυησεται τον πλησιον και ο απολωλεκως αισχυνην εγκαταλειψει αυτον	14 Let your treasure be in the precepts of the Most High, and it will benefit you more than gold.
15 χαριτας εγγυου μη επιλαθη εδωκεν γαρ την ψυχην αυτου υπερ σου	15 Store your alms in the hearts of the poor, and it will obtain help for you against all evil.
16 αγαθα εγγυου ανατρεψει αμαρτωλος και αχαριστος εν διανοια εγκαταλειψει ρυσαμενον	16 Better than the shield or the lance of a powerful man,
17 εγγυη πολλους απωλεσεν κατευθυνοντας και εσαλευσεν αυτους ως κυμα θαλασσης	17 it will fight for you against your enemy.
18 ανδρας δυνατους απωκισεν και επλανηθησαν εν εθνεσιν αλλοτριοις	18 A good man offers credit for the sake of his neighbor. But one who abandons him to himself will perish in shame.
19 αμαρτωλος εμπεσων εις εγγυην και διωκων εργολαβιας εμπεσειται εις κρισεις	19 You should not forget the kindness of your benefactor. For he has offered his life on your behalf.
20 αντιλαβου του πλησιον κατα δυναμιν σου και προσεχε σεαυτω μη εμπεσης	20 The sinner and the unclean flee from such promises.
21 αρχη ζωης υδωρ και αρτος και ιματιον και οικος καλυπτων ασχημοσυνην	21 A sinner attributes to himself the goods of his loan. And an ungrateful mind will abandon the one who has freed him.
22 κρεισσων βιος πτωχου υπο σκεπην δοκων η εδεσματα λαμπρα εν αλλοτριοις	22 A man offers credit to his neighbor. But when he will have lost respect, he will abandon him.
23 επι μικρω και μεγαλω ευδοκιαν εχε και ονειδισμον παροικιας ου μη ακουσης	23 A wicked promise has destroyed many who had good intentions, and has tossed them like a wave on the ocean.
24 ζωη πονηρα εξ οικιας εις οικιαν και ου παροικησεις ουκ ανοιξεις στομα	24 It has caused powerful men to travel around, and they have wandered amid foreign nations.
25 ξενιεις και ποτιεις εις αχαριστα και προς επι τουτοις πικρα ακουση	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 παρελθε παροικε κοσμησον τραπεζαν και ει τι εν τη χειρι σου ψωμισον με	26 Help your neighbor to recover according to your ability, but attend to yourself, lest you also fall.
27 εξελθε παροικε απο προσωπου δοξης επεξενωται μοι ο αδελφος χρεια της οικιας	27 The primary need in a man’s life is water and bread, and clothing, and a house to protect modesty.
28 βαρεα ταυτα ανθρωπω εχοντι φρονησιν επιτιμησις οικιας και ονειδισμος δανειστου	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.