Ecclesiasticus, 29

1. Making your neighbour a loan is an act of mercy, to lend him a helping hand is to keep the commandments.

1. He that takes vengeance will suffer vengeance from the Lord, and he will firmly establish his sins.

2. Lend to your neighbour in his time of need, and in your turn repay your neighbour on time.

2. Forgive your neighbor the wrong he has done, and then your sins will be pardoned when you pray.

3. Be as good as your word and keep faith with him, and you will find your needs met every time.

3. Does a man harbor anger against another, and yet seek for healing from the Lord?

4. Many treat a loan as a windfall, and embarrass those who have come to their rescue.

4. Does he have no mercy toward a man like himself, and yet pray for his own sins?

5. Until he gets something, a man will kiss his neighbour's hand, and refer diffidently to his wealth; but when the loan falls due, he puts this off, he repays with offhand words, and pleads the inconvenience of the time.

5. If he himself, being flesh, maintains wrath, who will make expiation for his sins?

6. Even if he can be made to pay, his creditor will recover barely half, and consider even that a windfall. But otherwise he will be cheated of his money, and undeservedly gain himself an enemy; the man will pay him back in curses and abuse, and with insults of honour.

6. Remember the end of your life, and cease from enmity, remember destruction and death, and be true to the commandments.

7. Many, not out of malice, refuse to lend; they are merely anxious not to be cheated for nothing.

7. Remember the commandments, and do not be angry with your neighbor; remember the covenant of the Most High, and overlook ignorance.

8. Nevertheless, be patient with those who are badly off, do not keep them waiting on your generosity.

8. Refrain from strife, and you will lessen sins; for a man given to anger will kindle strife,

9. In obedience to the commandment, help the poor; do not turn the poor away empty-handed in their need.

9. and a sinful man will disturb friends and inject enmity among those who are at peace.

10. Spend your money on your brother or your friend, do not leave it under a stone to rust away.

10. In proportion to the fuel for the fire, so will be the burning, and in proportion to the obstinacy of strife will be the burning; in proportion to the strength of the man will be his anger, and in proportion to his wealth he will heighten his wrath.

11. Use your wealth as the Most High has decreed; you will find that more profitable than gold.

11. A hasty quarrel kindles fire, and urgent strife sheds blood.

12. Stock your store-rooms with almsgiving; this will save you from all misfortune.

12. If you blow on a spark, it will glow; if you spit on it, it will be put out; and both come out of your mouth.

13. Better than sturdy shield or weighty spear, this will fight for you against the enemy.

13. Curse the whisperer and deceiver, for he has destroyed many who were at peace.

14. A good man will go surety for his neighbour; only a shameless wretch would desert him.

14. Slander has shaken many, and scattered them from nation to nation, and destroyed strong cities, and overturned the houses of great men.

15. Do not forget the favour your guarantor has done you; he has given his life for you.

15. Slander has driven away courageous women, and deprived them of the fruit of their toil.

16. A sinner is careless of his guarantor's prosperity, the ungrateful forgets his deliverer.

16. Whoever pays heed to slander will not find rest, nor will he settle down in peace.

17. Going surety has ruined many who were prosperous, tossing them about in a heavy sea.

17. The blow of a whip raises a welt, but a blow of the tongue crushes the bones.

18. It has driven the powerful from home to wander among foreign nations.

18. Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not so many as have fallen because of the tongue.

19. A wicked man in a hurry to stand guarantor in the hope of profit, is hurrying to be sentenced.

19. Happy is the man who is protected from it, who has not been exposed to its anger, who has not borne its yoke, and has not been bound with its fetters;

20. Come to your neighbour's help as far as you can, but take care not to fall into the same plight.

20. for its yoke is a yoke of iron, and its fetters are fetters of bronze;

21. The first thing in life is water, and bread, and clothing, and a house for the sake of privacy.

21. its death is an evil death, and Hades is preferable to it.

22. Better the life of the poor under a roof of planks, than lavish fare in somebody else's house.

22. It will not be master over the godly, and they will not be burned in its flame.

23. Whether you have little or much, be content with it, and you will not hear your household complaining.

23. Those who forsake the Lord will fall into its power; it will burn among them and will not be put out. It will be sent out against them like a lion; like a leopard it will mangle them.

24. It is a miserable life, going from house to house; wherever you stay, you dare not open your mouth,

24. See that you fence in your property with thorns, lock up your silver and gold,

25. you do not belong, you receive no thanks for the drink you pour out and hear embittering words into the bargain:

25. make balances and scales for your words, and make a door and a bolt for your mouth.

26. 'Come along, stranger, lay the table, what have you got ready? give me something to eat!'

26. Beware lest you err with your tongue, lest you fall before him who lies in wait.

27. 'Go away, stranger, make room for someone important; my brother is coming to stay, I need the house.'

27.

28. It is hard for the reasonable to be begrudged hospitality to be shamed like a debtor.

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