Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), Chapter 29

¹He that is merciful will lend unto his neighbour; and he that strengtheneth his hand keepeth the commandments. ²Lend to thy neighbour in time of his need, and pay thou thy neighbour again in due season. ³Keep thy word, and deal faithfully with him, and thou shalt always find the thing that is necessary for thee. ⁴Many, when a thing was lent them, reckoned it to be found, and put them to trouble that helped them. ⁵Till he hath received, he will kiss a man’s hand; and for his neighbour’s money he will speak submissly: but when he should repay, he will prolong the time, and return words of grief, and complain of the time. ⁶If he prevail, he shall hardly receive the half, and he will count as if he had found it: if not, he hath deprived him of his money, and he hath gotten him an enemy without cause: he payeth him with cursings and railings; and for honour he will pay him disgrace. ⁷Many therefore have refused to lend for other men’s ill dealing, fearing to be defrauded. ⁸Yet have thou patience with a man in poor estate, and delay not to shew him mercy.

⁹Help the poor for the commandment’s sake, and turn him not away because of his poverty. ¹⁰Lose thy money for thy brother and thy friend, and let it not rust under a stone to be lost. ¹¹Lay up thy treasure according to the commandments of the most High, and it shall bring thee more profit than gold. ¹²Shut up alms in thy storehouses: and it shall deliver thee from all affliction. ¹³It shall fight for thee against thine enemies better than a mighty shield and strong spear. ¹⁴An honest man is surety for his neighbour: but he that is impudent will forsake him. ¹⁵Forget not the friendship of thy surety, for he hath given his life for thee. ¹⁶A sinner will overthrow the good estate of his surety:

¹⁷And he that is of an unthankful mind will leave him in danger that delivered him. ¹⁸Suretiship hath undone many of good estate, and shaken them as a wave of the sea: mighty men hath it driven from their houses, so that they wandered among strange nations. ¹⁹A wicked man transgressing the commandments of the Lord shall fall into suretiship: and he that undertaketh and followeth other men’s business for gain shall fall into suits. ²⁰Help thy neighbour according to thy power, and beware that thou thyself fall not into the same. ²¹The chief thing for life is water, and bread, and clothing, and an house to cover shame. ²²Better is the life of a poor man in a mean cottage, than delicate fare in another man’s house. ²³Be it little or much, hold thee contented, that thou hear not the reproach of thy house. ²⁴For it is a miserable life to go from house to house: for where thou art a stranger, thou darest not open thy mouth.

²⁵Thou shalt entertain, and feast, and have no thanks: moreover thou shalt hear bitter words: ²⁶Come, thou stranger, and furnish a table, and feed me of that thou hast ready. ²⁷Give place, thou stranger, to an honourable man; my brother cometh to be lodged, and I have need of mine house. ²⁸These things are grievous to a man of understanding; the upbraiding of houseroom, and reproaching of the lender.