Ecclesiasticus 29
29
Lending to Those in Need
1 #
Ps 37.21,26; Prov 19.17. He that is merciful will lend unto his neighbor; and he that strengtheneth his hand keepeth the commandments. 2#Exod 22.25; Deut 15.8; Matt 5.42. Lend to thy neighbor in time of his need, and pay thou thy neighbor 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 neighbor's money he will speak submissively: 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 honor he will pay him disgrace. 7Many therefore have refused to lend for other men's ill-dealing, fearing to be defrauded.
Helping the Poor
8Yet have thou patience with a man in poor estate, and delay not to show him mercy. 9#Lev 25.35; Deut 15.7,8. Help the poor for the commandment's sake, and turn him not away because of his poverty. 10#Matt 6.19; Jas 5.3. Lose thy money for thy brother and thy friend, and let it not rust under a stone to be lost. 11#Tob 4.9; Matt 19.21; Luke 12.33. Lay up thy treasure according to the commandments of the most High, and it shall bring thee more profit than gold. 12#Tob 4.10; 12.9. Shut 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.
Suretyship for a Neighbor
14An honest man is surety for his neighbor: 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. 18Suretyship 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 suretyship: and he that undertaketh and followeth other men's business for gain shall fall into suits. 20#Ecclus 8.13. Help thy neighbor according to thy power, and beware that thou thyself fall not into the same.
Contentment
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. 23#Phil 4.11; 1 Tim 6.8; Heb 13.5. Be it little or much, hold thee contented, that thou hear not the reproach of thy house.
Embarrassments of Dependence on Others
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 honorable 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.
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Ecclesiasticus 29: KJVAAE
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King James Version 1611, spelling, punctuation and text formatting modernized by ABS in 1962; typesetting © 2010 American Bible Society.