Saltar a la lectura
Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 29
Sir
Home
›
Books of the Bible
›
Ecclesiasticus (Sirach)
›
Chapter 29
Loans
1
Making your neighbour a loan is an act of mercy, to lend him a helping hand is to keep the commandments.
2
Lend to your neighbour in his time of need, and in your turn repay your neighbour on time.
3
Be as good as your word and keep faith with him, and you will find your needs met every time.
4
Many treat a loan as a windfall, and embarrass those who have come to their rescue.
5
Until he gets something, a man will kiss his neighbour’s hand, and refer to his wealth in respectful tones; but when the loan falls due, he puts this off, he repays with offhand words, and pleads the inconvenience of the time.
6
Even if he can be made to pay, his creditor will barely recover 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 recriminations, and instead of respect will have contempt for him.
7
Many, not out of malice, refuse to lend; they are merely anxious not to be cheated for nothing.
Generosity
8
Nevertheless, be patient with those who are badly-off, do not keep them waiting on your generosity.
9
For the commandment’s sake go to the poor man’s help, do not turn him away empty-handed in his need.
10
Better let your silver go on brother or friend, do not let it go to waste, rusting under a stone.
11
Invest your treasure as the Most High orders, and you will find it more profitable than gold.
12
Deposit generosity in your storerooms and it will release you from every misfortune.
13
Better than sturdy shield or weighty spear, it will fight for you against the enemy.
Securities
14
A good man will go surety for his neighbour; a man has lost all shame if he fails him.
15
Do not forget the favour your guarantor has done you; he has given his life for you.
16
A sinner is careless of his guarantor’s prosperity, an ungrateful man forgets the one who saved him.
17
Going surety has ruined many prosperous men and rocked them like a wave of the sea.
18
It has driven powerful men from home to wander among foreign nations.
19
The sinner who involves himself with guarantees, in pursuit of a deal, will find himself involved in lawsuits.
20
Come to your neighbour’s help as far as you can, but take care not to fall into the same plight.
Home and hospitality
21
The first thing in life is water, and bread, and clothing, and a house for the sake of privacy.
22
Better a poor man’s life under a roof of planks, than lavish fare in the house of another.
23
Whether you have little or much, be content with it, and you will not be dubbed an intruder.
24
It is a miserable life, going from house to house; wherever you stay, not daring to open your mouth;
25
you are a stranger, you know the taste of humiliation, not to mention the sound of embittering words,
26
‘Come along, stranger, lay the table, if you have anything with you, give it to me to eat’.
27
‘Go away, stranger, make room for someone important; my brother is coming to stay, I need the house.’
28
It is hard for a cultured man to hear himself begrudged hospitality and treated like an undischarged debtor.
Chapters of Ecclesiasticus (Sirach)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
Home
Search
Readings
Settings