Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 29
Of charity in lending money, and justice in repaying. Of alms, and of being surety.
Qui facit misericordiam fœneratur proximo suo: et qui prævalet manu mandata servat.
He that sheweth mercy, lendeth to his neighbour: and he that is stronger in hand, keepeth the commandments.
Fœnerare proximo tuo in tempore necessitatis illius: et iterum redde proximo in tempore suo.
Lend to thy neighbour in the time of his need, and pay thou thy neighbour again in due time.
Confirma verbum, et fideliter age cum illo: et in omni tempore invenies quod tibi necessarium est.
Keep thy word, and deal faithfully with him: and thou shalt always find that which is necessary for thee.
Multi quasi inventionem æstimaverunt fœnus, et præstiterunt molestiam his qui se adjuverunt.
Many have looked upon a thing lent as a thing found, and have given trouble to them that helped them.
Donec accipiant, osculantur manus dantis, et in promissionibus humiliant vocem suam:
Till they receive, they kiss the hands of the lender, and in promises they humble their voice:
et in tempore redditionis postulabit tempus, et loquetur verba tædii et murmurationum, et tempus causabitur.
But when they should repay, they will ask time, and will return tedious and murmuring words, and will complain of the time:
Si autem potuerit reddere, adversabitur: solidi vix reddet dimidium, et computabit illud quasi inventionem:
And if he be able to pay, he will stand off, he will scarce pay one half, and will count it as if he had found it:
sin autem, fraudabit illum pecunia sua, et possidebit illum inimicum gratis:
But if not, he will defraud him of his money, and he shall get him for an enemy without cause.
et convitia et maledicta reddet illi, et pro honore et beneficio reddet illi contumeliam.
And he will pay him with reproaches and curses, and instead of honour and good turn will repay him injuries.
Multi non causa nequitiæ non fœnerati sunt, sed fraudari gratis timuerunt.
Many have refused to lend, not out of wickedness, but they were afraid to be defrauded without cause.
Verumtamen super humilem animo fortior esto, et pro eleemosyna non trahas illum.
But yet towards the poor be thou more hearty, and delay not to shew him mercy.
Propter mandatum assume pauperem, et propter inopiam ejus ne dimittas eum vacuum.
Help the poor because of the commandment: and send him not away empty handed because of his poverty.
Perde pecuniam propter fratrem et amicum tuum, et non abscondas illam sub lapide in perditionem.
Lose thy money for thy brother and thy friend: and hide it not under a stone to be lost.
Pone thesaurum tuum in præceptis Altissimi, et proderit tibi magis quam aurum.
Place thy treasure in the commandments of the most High, and it shall bring thee more profit than gold.
Conclude eleemosynam in corde pauperis, et hæc pro te exorabit ab omni malo.
Shut up alms in the heart of the poor, and it shall obtain help for thee against all evil.
Super scutum potentis
Better than the shield of the mighty, and better than the spear:
et super lanceam
It shall fight for thee against thy enemy.
adversus inimicum tuum pugnabit.
A good man is surety for his neighbour: and he that hath lost shame, will leave him to himself.
Vir bonus fidem facit pro proximo suo: et qui perdiderit confusionem derelinquet sibi.
Forget not the kindness of thy surety: for he hath given his life for thee.
Gratiam fidejussoris ne obliviscaris: dedit enim pro te animam suam.
The sinner and the unclean fleeth from his surety.
Repromissorem fugit peccator et immundus.
A sinner attributeth to himself the goods of his surety: and he that is of an unthankful mind will leave him that delivered him.
Bona repromissoris sibi ascribit peccator: et ingratus sensu derelinquet liberantem se.
A man is surety for his neighbour: and when he hath lost all shame, he shall forsake him.
Vir repromittit de proximo suo: et cum perdiderit reverentiam, derelinquetur ab eo.
Evil suretyship hath undone many of good estate, and hath tossed them as a wave of the sea.
Repromissio nequissima multos perdidit dirigentes, et commovit illos quasi fluctus maris.
It hath made powerful men to go from place to place round about, and they have wandered in strange countries.
Viros potentes gyrans migrare fecit, et vagati sunt in gentibus alienis.
A sinner that transgresseth the commandment of the Lord, shall fall into an evil suretyship: and he that undertaketh many things, shall fall into judgment.
Peccator transgrediens mandatum Domini incidet in promissionem nequam: et qui conatur multa agere incidet in judicium.
Recover thy neighbour according to thy power, and take heed to thyself that thou fall not.
Recupera proximum secundum virtutem tuam, et attende tibi ne incidas.
The chief thing for man's life is water and bread, and clothing, and a house to cover shame.
Initium vitæ hominis, aqua et panis, et vestimentum, et domus protegens turpitudinem.
Better is the poor man's fare under a roof of boards, than sumptuous cheer abroad in another man's house.
Melior est victus pauperis sub tegmine asserum quam epulæ splendidæ in peregre sine domicilio.
Be contented with little instead of much, and thou shalt not hear the reproach of going abroad.
Minimum pro magno placeat tibi, et improperium peregrinationis non audies.
It is a miserable life to go as a guest from house to house: for where a man is a stranger, he shall not deal confidently, nor open his mouth.
Vita nequam hospitandi de domo in domum: et ubi hospitabitur non fiducialiter aget, nec aperiet os.
He shall entertain and feed, and give drink to the unthankful, and moreover he shall hear bitter words.
Hospitabitur, et pascet, et potabit ingratos, et ad hæc amara audiet:
Go, stranger, and furnish the table, and give others to eat what thou hast in thy hand.
transi, hospes, et orna mensam, et quæ in manu habes ciba ceteros.
Give place to the honourable presence of my friends: for I want my house, my brother being to be lodged with me.
Exi a facie honoris amicorum meorum: necessitudine domus meæ hospitio mihi factus est frater.
These things are grievous to a man of understanding: the upbraiding of houseroom, and the reproaching of the lender.
Gravia hæc homini habenti sensum: correptio domus, et improperium fœneratoris.
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