Liber Ecclesiasticus, 29

1. Qui facit misericordiam, feneratur proximo suo; et, qui confortat manu, mandata servat.

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

2. Fenerare proximo tuo in tempore necessitatis illius et iterum redde proximo in tempore suo.

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

3. Confirma verbum et fideliter age cum illo, et omni tempore invenies, quod tibi necessarium est.

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

4. Multi quasi inventionem aestimaverunt fenus et praestiterunt molestiam his, qui se adiuverunt.

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

5. Donec accipiat, osculatur manus dantis et de possessionibus proximi humiliat vocem suam;

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

6. et in tempore redditionis postulabit tempus, et reddet verba taedii et murmurationum et tempus causabitur.

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

7. Si autem potuerit reddere, adversabitur; solidi vix reddet dimidium et computabit illud quasi inventionem.

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

8. Sin autem, fraudabit illum pecunia sua et possidebit illum inimicum gratis.

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

9. Et convicia et maledicta reddet illi et pro honore et beneficio reddet illi contumeliam.

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

10. Multi non causa nequitiae non fenerati sunt, sed fraudari gratis timuerunt.

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. Verumtamen super humilem longanimis esto et pro eleemosyna non trahas illum.

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

12. Propter mandatum assume pauperem et propter inopiam eius ne dimittas eum vacuum.

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. Perde pecuniam propter fratrem et amicum tuum et non abscondas illam sub lapide in perditionem.

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

14. Pone thesaurum tuum in praeceptis Altissimi, et proderit tibi magis quam aurum.

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

15. Conclude eleemosynam in corde pauperis, et haec pro te exorabit ab omni malo. (16 17)

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

16.

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

17.

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

18. Super scutum roboris et super lanceam ponderis adversus inimicum tuum pugnabit pro te.

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

19. Vir bonus fidem facit pro proximo suo; et, qui perdiderit confusionem, fugiet repromissorem.

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. Gratiam fideiussoris ne obliviscaris: dedit enim pro te animam suam. (21)

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

21.

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

22. Bona repromissoris dissipabit peccator, et ingratus sensu derelinquet liberantem se. (23)

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

23.

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. Repromissio multos perdidit recte agentes et commovit illos quasi fluctus maris;

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

25. viros potentes transmigrare fecit, et vagati sunt in gentibus alienis.

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

26. Peccator transgrediens mandata Domini incidet in repromissionem, et, qui conatur lucrum sectari, incidet in iudicium.

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

27. Sponde pro proximo secundum virtutem tuam, sed attende tibi, ne incidas.

27.

28. Initium vitae hominis aqua et panis et vestimentum et domus protegens turpitudinem.

28.

29. Melior est victus pauperis sub tegmine asserum quam epulae splendidae in peregre sine domicilio.

29.

30. Super parvo et magno placeat tibi, et improperium peregrinationis non audies.

30.

31. Vita nequam hospitandi de domo in domum, et ubi hospitabitur, non fiducialiter aget, nec aperiet os.

31.

32. Hospitaberis et pasceris et potaberis sine gratia, et ad haec amara audiet:

32.

33. “Transi, hospes, et orna mensam et, si quae in manu habes, ciba me!”.

33.

34. “Exi a facie honoratioris! Necessitudine domus meae hospitio mihi factus est frater”.

34.

35. Gravia haec homini habenti sensum: obiurgatio peregrinationis et improperium feneratoris.

35.