Ecclesiasticus 29

VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Qui facit misericordiam f?neratur proximo suo : et qui prævalet manu mandata servat.	1 He does a kindness who lends to his neighbor, and he fulfills the precepts who holds out a helping hand.
2 F?nerare proximo tuo in tempore necessitatis illius : et iterum redde proximo in tempore suo.	2 Lend to your neighbor in his hour of need, and pay back your neighbor when a loan falls due;
3 Confirma verbum, et fideliter age cum illo : et in omni tempore invenies quod tibi necessarium est.	3 Keep your promise, be honest with him, and you will always come by what you need.
4 Multi quasi inventionem æstimaverunt f?nus, et præstiterunt molestiam his qui se adjuverunt.	4 Many a man who asks for a loan adds to the burdens of those who help him;
5 Donec accipiant, osculantur manus dantis, et in promissionibus humiliant vocem suam :	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 et in tempore redditionis postulabit tempus, et loquetur verba tædii et murmurationum, et tempus causabitur.	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 Si autem potuerit reddere, adversabitur : solidi vix reddet dimidium, et computabit illud quasi inventionem :	7 Many refuse to lend, not out of meanness, but from fear of being cheated.
8 sin autem, fraudabit illum pecunia sua, et possidebit illum inimicum gratis :	8 To a poor man, however, be generous; keep him not waiting for your alms;
9 et convitia et maledicta reddet illi, et pro honore et beneficio reddet illi contumeliam.	9 Because of the precept, help the needy, and in their want, do not send them away empty-handed.
10 Multi non causa nequitiæ non f?nerati sunt, sed fraudari gratis timuerunt.	10 Spend your money for your brother and friend, and hide it not under a stone to perish;
11 Verumtamen super humilem animo fortior esto, et pro eleemosyna non trahas illum.	11 Dispose of your treasure as the Most High commands, for that will profit you more than the gold.
12 Propter mandatum assume pauperem, et propter inopiam ejus ne dimittas eum vacuum.	12 Store up almsgiving in your treasure house, and it will save you from every evil;
13 Perde pecuniam propter fratrem et amicum tuum, et non abscondas illam sub lapide in perditionem.	13 Better than a stout shield and a sturdy spear it will fight for you against the foe.
14 Pone thesaurum tuum in præceptis Altissimi, et proderit tibi magis quam aurum.	14 A good man goes surety for his neighbor, and only the shameless would play him false;
15 Conclude eleemosynam in corde pauperis, et hæc pro te exorabit ab omni malo.	15 Forget not the kindness of your backer, for he offers his very life for you.
16 Super scutum potentis	16 The wicked turn a pledge on their behalf into misfortune, and the ingrate abandons his protector;
17 et super lanceam	17 Going surety has ruined many prosperous men and tossed them about like waves of the sea,
18 adversus inimicum tuum pugnabit.	18 Has exiled men of prominence and sent them wandering through foreign lands.
19 Vir bonus fidem facit pro proximo suo : et qui perdiderit confusionem derelinquet sibi.	19 The sinner through surety comes to grief, and he who undertakes too much falls into lawsuits.
20 Gratiam fidejussoris ne obliviscaris : dedit enim pro te animam suam.	20 Go surety for your neighbor according to your means, but take care lest you fall thereby.
21 Repromissorem fugit peccator et immundus.	21 Life's prime needs are water, bread, and clothing, a house, too, for decent privacy.
22 Bona repromissoris sibi ascribit peccator : et ingratus sensu derelinquet liberantem se.	22 Better a poor man's fare under the shadow of one's own roof than sumptuous banquets among strangers.
23 Vir repromittit de proximo suo : et cum perdiderit reverentiam, derelinquetur ab eo.	23 Be it little or much, be content with what you have, and pay no heed to him who would disparage your home;
24 Repromissio nequissima multos perdidit dirigentes, et commovit illos quasi fluctus maris.	24 A miserable life it is to go from house to house, for as a guest you dare not open your mouth.
25 Viros potentes gyrans migrare fecit, et vagati sunt in gentibus alienis.	25 The visitor has no thanks for filling the cups; besides, you will hear these bitter words:
26 Peccator transgrediens mandatum Domini incidet in promissionem nequam : et qui conatur multa agere incidet in judicium.	26 "Come here, stranger, set the table, give me to eat the food you have!
27 Recupera proximum secundum virtutem tuam, et attende tibi ne incidas.	27 Away, stranger, for one more worthy; for my brother's visit I need the room!"
28 Initium vitæ hominis, aqua et panis, et vestimentum, et domus protegens turpitudinem.	28 Painful things to a sensitive man are abuse at home and insults from his creditors.
29 Melior est victus pauperis sub tegmine asserum quam epulæ splendidæ in peregre sine domicilio.
30 Minimum pro magno placeat tibi, et improperium peregrinationis non audies.
31 Vita nequam hospitandi de domo in domum : et ubi hospitabitur non fiducialiter aget, nec aperiet os.
32 Hospitabitur, et pascet, et potabit ingratos, et ad hæc amara audiet :
33 transi, hospes, et orna mensam, et quæ in manu habes ciba ceteros.
34 Exi a facie honoris amicorum meorum : necessitudine domus meæ hospitio mihi factus est frater.
35 Gravia hæc homini habenti sensum : correptio domus, et improperium f?neratoris.