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.
Versículos relacionados com Ecclesiasticus, 29:
Ecclesiastical 29 talks about the importance of friendship and money loan. The chapter begins with a reflection on the happiness of having true and reliable friends, and also addresses the theme of money loan to friends and the need to be careful on this subject. Based on these themes, below are five related verses:
Proverbs 17:17: "At all times the friend loves and for the time of anguish the brother is born." This verse talks about the importance of true friendship, which must be cultivated at all times, especially in difficult times.
Proverbs 19:17: "He who treats the poor well lends the Lord who will pay him for his benefit." This verse talks about kindness in helping the poor and needy, showing that lending money to those who need is a way to help others.
Proverbs 22:7: "The rich dominates over the poor, and what he borrows is a servant of what he lends." This verse addresses the danger of straightening and subordinate to the creditor, showing that it is important to act with financial wisdom.
Luke 6:34-35: "And if they lend to those of whom you expect to receive, what merit do you have? In return, and great will be your reward, and you shall be children of the Most High; for he is benign even to the ungrateful and evil. " This verse shows that we should lend not only to those we hope to receive back, but also to those who are not our friends and enemies, acting with love and generosity.
Romans 13:8: "No one should do anything but the love with which you love to each other; for the one who loves others fulfilled the law." This verse emphasizes the importance of not having anything to anyone, showing that it is important to be honest and just in all our financial and interpersonal relationships.
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