The Word Am I

The Book of Jesus Sirach

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

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- Chapter 29 -

Of charity in lending money, and justice in repaying. Of alms, and of being surety.

1
He that sheweth mercy, lendeth to his neighbour: and he that is stronger in hand, keepeth the commandments.
2
Lend to thy neighbour in the time of his need, and pay thou thy neighbour again in due time.
3
Reap thy word, and deal faithfully with him: and thou shalt always find that which is necessary for thee.
4
Many have looked upon a thing lent as a thing found, and have given trouble to them that helped them.
5
Till they receive, they kiss the hands of the lender, and in promises they humble their voice:
6
But when they should repay, they will ask time, and will return tedious and murmuring words, and will complain of the time:
7
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:
8
But if not, he will defraud him of his money, and he shall get him for an enemy without cause:
9
And he will pay him with reproaches and curses, and instead of honour and good turn will repay him injuries.
10
Many have refused to lend, not out of wickedness, but they were afraid to be defrauded without cause.
11
But yet towards the poor be thou more hearty, and delay not to shew him mercy.
12
Help the poor because of the commandment: and send him not away empty handed because of his poverty.
13
Lose thy money for thy brother and thy friend: and hide it not under a stone to be lost.
14
Place thy treasure in the commandments of the most High, and it shall bring thee more profit than gold.
15
Shut up alms in the heart of the poor, and it shall obtain help for thee against all evil.
16
Better than the shield of the mighty, and better than the spear:
17
It shall fight for thee against thy enemy.
18
A good man is surety for his neighbour: and he that hath lost shame, will leave him to himself.
19
Forget not the kindness of thy surety: for he hath given his life for thee.
20
The sinner and the unclean fleeth from his surety.
21
A sinner attributeth to himself the goods of his surety: and he that is of an unthankful mind will leave him that delivered him.
22
A man is surety for his neighbour: and when he hath lost all shame, he shall forsake him.
23
Evil suretyship hath undone many of good estate, and hath tossed them as a wave of the sea.
24
It hath made powerful men to go from place to place round about, and they have wandered in strange countries.
25
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.
26
Recover thy neighbour according to thy power, and take heed to thyself that thou fall not.
27
The chief thing for man’s life is water and bread, and clothing, and a house to cover shame.
28
Better is the poor man’s fare under a roof of boards, than sumptuous cheer abroad in another man’s house.
29
Be contented with little instead of much, and thou shalt not hear the reproach of going abroad.
30
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.
31
He shall entertain and feed, and give drink to the unthankful, and moreover he shall hear bitter words.
32
Go, stranger, and furnish the table, and give others to eat what thou hast in thy hand.
33
Give place to the honourable presence of my friends: for I want my house, my brother being to be lodged with me.
34
These things are grievous to a man of understanding: the upbraiding of houseroom, and the reproaching of the lender.

Of charity in lending money, and justice in repaying. Of alms, and of being surety.

1
He who shows mercy will lend to his neighbor. He who strengthens him with his hand keeps the commandments.
2
Lend to your neighbor in time of his need. Repay your neighbor on time.
3
Confirm your word, and keep faith with him; and at all seasons you will find what you need.
4
Many have considered a loan to be a windfall, and have given trouble to those who helped them.
5
Until he has received, he will kiss a man’s hands. For his neighbor’s money he will speak submissively. Then when payment is due, he will prolong the time, return excuses, and complain about the season.
6
If he prevails, the creditor will hardly receive half; and he will count it as a windfall. If not, he has deprived him of his money, and he has gotten him for an enemy without cause. He will pay him with cursing and railing. Instead of honor, he will pay him disgrace.
7
Many on account of fraud have turned away. They are afraid of being defrauded for nothing.
8
However be patient with a man in poor estate. Don’t keep him waiting for your alms.
9
Help a poor man for the commandment’s sake. According to his need don’t send him empty away.
10
Lose your money for a brother and a friend. Don’t let it rust under a stone and be lost.
11
Allocate your treasure according to the commandments of the Most High and it will profit you more than gold.
12
Store up almsgiving in your store-chambers and it will deliver you out of all affliction.
13
It will fight for you against your enemy better than a mighty shield and a ponderous spear.
14
A good man will be surety for his neighbor. He who has lost shame will fail him.
15
Don’t forget the kindness of your guarantor, for he has given his life for you.
16
A sinner will waste the property of his guarantor.
17
He who is thankless will fail him who delivered him.
18
Being surety has undone many who were prospering and shaken them as a wave of the sea. It has driven mighty men from their homes. They wandered among foreign nations.
19
A sinner who falls into suretiship and undertakes contracts for work will fall into lawsuits.
20
Help your neighbor according to your power, and be careful not to fall yourself.
21
The essentials of life are water, bread, a garment, and a house for privacy.
22
Better is the life of a poor man under a shelter of logs than sumptuous fare in another man’s house.
23
With little or with much, be well satisfied.(a)
24
It is a miserable life to go from house to house. Where you are a guest, you dare not open your mouth.
25
You will entertain, serve drinks, and have no thanks. In addition to this, you will hear bitter words.
26
“Come here, you sojourner, set a table, and if you have anything in your hand, feed me with it.”
27
“Leave, you sojourner, for an honored guest is here. My brother has come to be my guest. I need my house.”
28
These things are grievous to a man of understanding: The scolding about lodging and the insults of creditors.

Footnotes

(a)29:23 The remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.
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