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Ecclesiasticus
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 |
Keep 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. |
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