Chapter 29

He 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.