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Ecclesiasticus
29
He that sheweth mercy, lendeth to his neighbour: and
he that is stronger in hand, keepeth the commandments.
Lend to thy neighbour in the time of his need, and pay
thou thy neighbour again in due time.
Reap thy word, and deal faithfully with him: and thou
shalt always find that which is necessary for thee.
Many have looked upon a thing lent as a thing found,
and have given trouble to them that helped them.
Till they receive, they kiss the hands of the lender,
and in promises they humble their voice:
But when they should repay, they will ask time, and
will return tedious and murmuring words, and will complain
of the time:
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:
But if not, he will defraud him of his money, and he
shall get him for an enemy without cause:
And he will pay him with reproaches and curses, and
instead of honour and good turn will repay him injuries.
Many have refused to lend, not out of wickedness, but
they were afraid to be defrauded without cause.
But yet towards the poor be thou more hearty, and delay
not to shew him mercy.
Help the poor because of the commandment: and send him
not away empty handed because of his poverty.
Lose thy money for thy brother and thy friend: and hide
it not under a stone to be lost.
Place thy treasure in the commandments of the most High,
and it shall bring thee more profit than gold.
Shut up alms in the heart of the poor, and it shall
obtain help for thee against all evil.
Better than the shield of the mighty, and better than
the spear:
It shall fight for thee against thy enemy.
A good man is surety for his neighbour: and he that
hath lost shame, will leave him to himself.
Forget not the kindness of thy surety: for he hath given
his life for thee.
The sinner and the unclean fleeth from his surety.
A sinner attributeth to himself the goods of his surety:
and he that is of an unthankful mind will leave him
that delivered him.
A man is surety for his neighbour: and when he hath
lost all shame, he shall forsake him.
Evil suretyship hath undone many of good estate, and
hath tossed them as a wave of the sea.
It hath made powerful men to go from place to place
round about, and they have wandered in strange countries.
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.
Recover thy neighbour according to thy power, and take
heed to thyself that thou fall not.
The chief thing for man's life is water and bread, and
clothing, and a house to cover shame.
Better is the poor man's fare under a roof of boards,
than sumptuous cheer abroad in another man's house.
Be contented with little instead of much, and thou shalt
not hear the reproach of going abroad.
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.
He shall entertain and feed, and give drink to the unthankful,
and moreover he shall hear bitter words.
Go, stranger, and furnish the table, and give others
to eat what thou hast in thy hand.
Give place to the honourable presence of my friends:
for I want my house, my brother being to be lodged with
me.
These things are grievous to a man of understanding:
the upbraiding of houseroom, and the reproaching of
the lender. |
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