Chapter 29

¹ He that is merciful will lend unto his neighbor;

Sir 29:1

² Lend to thy neighbor in time of his need,

Sir 29:2

³ Keep thy word, and deal faithfully with him,

Sir 29:3

⁴ Many, when a thing was lent them, reckoned it to be found,

Sir 29:4

⁵ Till he hath received, he will kiss a man’s hand;

Sir 29:5

⁶ If he prevail, he shall hardly receive the half,

Sir 29:6

⁷ Many therefore have refused to lend for other men’s ill dealing,

Sir 29:7

⁸ Yet have thou patience with a man in poor estate,

Sir 29:8

⁹ Help the poor for the commandment’s sake,

Sir 29:9

¹⁰ Lose thy money for thy brother and thy friend,

Sir 29:10

¹¹ Lay up thy treasure according to the commandments of the most High,

Sir 29:11

¹² Shut up alms in thy storehouses:

Sir 29:12

¹³ It shall fight for thee against thine enemies

Sir 29:13

¹⁴ An honest man is surety for his neighbor:

Sir 29:14

¹⁵ Forget not the friendship of thy surety,

Sir 29:15

¹⁶ A sinner will overthrow the good estate of his surety:

Sir 29:16

¹⁷ And he that is of an unthankful mind will leave him [in danger] that delivered him.

Sir 29:17

¹⁸ Suretyship hath undone many of good estate,

Sir 29:18

¹⁹ A wicked man transgressing the commandments of the Lord shall fall into suretyship:

Sir 29:19

²⁰ Help thy neighbor according to thy power,

Sir 29:20

²¹ The chief thing for life is water, and bread,

Sir 29:21

²² Better is the life of a poor man in a mean cottage,

Sir 29:22

²³ Be it little or much, hold thee contented,

Sir 29:23

²⁴ For it is a miserable life to go from house to house:

Sir 29:24

²⁵ Thou shalt entertain, and feast, and have no thanks:

Sir 29:25

²⁶ Come, thou stranger, and furnish a table,

Sir 29:26

²⁷ Give place, thou stranger, to an honorable man;

Sir 29:27

²⁸ These things are grievous to a man of understanding;

Sir 29:28