Sirach - Chapter 29

Passage

He that shows mercy, lends to his neighbor: and he that is stronger in hand, keeps the commandments. Lend to your neighbor in the time of his need, and pay you your neighbor again in due time. Keep your word, and deal faithfully with him: and you shall always find that which is necessary for you. 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 honor 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 you more hearty, and delay not to show him mercy. Help the poor because of the commandment: and send him not away empty handed because of his poverty. Lose your money for your brother and your friend: and hide it not under a stone to be lost. Place your treasure in the commandments of the most High, and it shall bring you more profit than gold. Shut up alms in the heart of the poor, and it shall obtain help for you against all evil. Better than the shield of the mighty, and better than the spear: It shall fight for you against your enemy. A good man is surety for his neighbor: and he that has lost shame, will leave him to himself. Forget not the kindness of your surety: for he has given his life for you. The sinner and the unclean flees from his surety. A sinner attributes 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 neighbor: and when he has lost all shame, he shall forsake him. Evil suretyship has undone many of good estate, and has tossed them as a wave of the sea. It has made powerful men to go from place to place round about, and they have wandered in strange countries. A sinner that transgresses the commandment of the Lord, shall fall into an evil suretyship: and he that undertakes many things, shall fall into judgment. Recover your neighbor according to your power, and take heed to yourself that you 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 you shall 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 you have in your hand. Give place to the honorable 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.