1 El que practica la misericordia presta a su prójimo, y el que acude en su ayuda observa los mandamientos. | 1 He shows mercy who lends to his neighbor, for he keeps the commandments by strengthening him. |
2 Presta a tu prójimo cuando esté necesitado, y restitúyele a tu vez en el momento convenido. | 2 Lend to your neighbor in his time of need, and receive it again from your neighbor in his time. |
3 Cumple tu palabra y sé leal con él, y encontrarás en todo momento lo que necesites. | 3 Keep your word, and act faithfully with him, and then you will find whatever you need in every time. |
4 Muchos consideran el préstamo como una ganga y ponen en aprietos a quienes los han ayudado. | 4 Many have treated a loan like found money, and they offered trouble to those who helped them. |
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. | 5 Until they receive, they kiss the hands of the giver, and they humble their voice in promises. |
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. | 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 Así, muchos se niegan a prestar, no por maldad, sino por temor a ser despojados sin razón. | 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 Pero tú sé indulgente con el humilde y no le hagas esperar tu limosna. | 8 But if not, then he will defraud him of his money, and he will have him as an enemy without cause. |
9 Socorre al pobre para cumplir el mandamiento y, en su indigencia, no lo despidas con las manos vacías. | 9 And he will repay him with accusations and curses, and he will repay him with contempt, instead of with honor and kindness. |
10 Pierde tu dinero por un hermano y un amigo: que no se herrumbre bajo una piedra y lo pierdas. | 10 Many have refused to lend, not because of wickedness, but because they were afraid to be defrauded without cause. |
11 Deposita tu tesoro según los mandamientos del Altísimo y te reportará más provecho que el oro; | 11 Yet truly, be more steadfast toward the humble, and you should not delay in acts of mercy toward them. |
12 que el tesoro encerrado en tus graneros sea la limosna, y ella te preservará de todo mal: | 12 Assist the poor because of the commandment. And you should not send him away empty because of his dire need. |
13 mejor que un fuerte escudo y una lanza pesada combatirá a tu favor frente al enemigo. | 13 Lose your money to your brother and your friend. For you should not hide it under a stone to be lost. |
14 El hombre de bien sale fiador de su prójimo, pero el que perdió la vergüenza lo deja abandonado. | 14 Let your treasure be in the precepts of the Most High, and it will benefit you more than gold. |
15 No olvides los favores de tu fiador, porque él ha expuesto su vida por ti. | 15 Store your alms in the hearts of the poor, and it will obtain help for you against all evil. |
16 El pecador dilapida los bienes de su fiador y el desagradecido abandona al que lo salvó. | 16 Better than the shield or the lance of a powerful man, |
17 La fianza perdió a muchos que vivían prósperamente, los sacudió como una ola del mar; | 17 it will fight for you against your enemy. |
18 obligó a expatriarse a hombres poderosos, que anduvieron fugitivos por países extraños. | 18 A good man offers credit for the sake of his neighbor. But one who abandons him to himself will perish in shame. |
19 El pecador que se ofrece como fiador y busca ventaja, se expone a ser procesado. | 19 You should not forget the kindness of your benefactor. For he has offered his life on your behalf. |
20 Socorre a tu prójimo en la medida de tus recursos, pero ten cuidado de no arruinarte. | 20 The sinner and the unclean flee from such promises. |
21 Lo esencial para la vida es el agua, el pan, la ropa, y una casa para albergarse dignamente. | 21 A sinner attributes to himself the goods of his loan. And an ungrateful mind will abandon the one who has freed him. |
22 Más vale vida de pobre en una cabaña que comida exquisita en casa ajena. | 22 A man offers credit to his neighbor. But when he will have lost respect, he will abandon him. |
23 Conténtate con lo que tienes, sea poco o mucho, y no oirás que te reprochan por ser un extraño. | 23 A wicked promise has destroyed many who had good intentions, and has tossed them like a wave on the ocean. |
24 Triste vida es andar de casa en casa: donde eres un extraño, no puedes abrir la boca. | 24 It has caused powerful men to travel around, and they have wandered amid foreign nations. |
25 Sirves de comer y beber a gente desagradecida, y encima tienes que oír cosas amargas: | 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 –Ven aquí, forastero, prepara la mesa, y si tienes algo a mano, dame de comer». | 26 Help your neighbor to recover according to your ability, but attend to yourself, lest you also fall. |
27 –»Deja el lugar para alguien más importante; mi hermano viene a hospedarse, y necesito la casa». | 27 The primary need in a man’s life is water and bread, and clothing, and a house to protect modesty. |
28 ¡Qué duro es para un hombre sensible que le reprochen la hospitalidad y le echen en cara una deuda! | 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. |