Wisdom of Sirach 29

He that is merciful will lend unto his neighbour; and he that strengtheneth his hand keepeth the commandments.

Ὁ ποιῶν ἔλεος δανειεῖ τῷ πλησιον, καὶ ὁ ἐπισχύων τῇ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ τηρεῖ ἐντολάς.

Lend to thy neighbour in time of his need, and pay thou thy neighbour again in due season.

Δάνεισον τῷ πλησίον ἐν καιρῷ χρείας αὐτοῦ, καὶ πάλιν ἀπόδος τῷ πλησίον εἰς τὸν καιρόν.

Keep thy word, and deal faithfully with him, and thou shalt always find the thing that is necessary for thee.

Στερέωσον λόγον, καὶ πιστώθητι μετʼ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐν παντὶ καιρῷ εὑρήσεις τὴν χρείαν σου.

Many, when a thing was lent them, reckoned it to be found, and put them to trouble that helped them.

Πολλοὶ ὡς εὕρεμα ἐνόμισαν δάνος, καὶ παρέσχον πόνον τοῖς βοηθήσασιν αὐτοῖς.

Till he hath received, he will kiss a man's hand; and for his neighbour'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.

Ἕως οὗ λάβῃ, καταφιλήσει χεῖρα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν χρημάτων τοῦ πλησίον ταπεινώσει φωνήν· καὶ ἐν καιρῷ ἀποδόσεως παρελκύσει χρόνον, καὶ ἀποδώσει λόγους ἀκηδίας, καὶ τὸν καιρὸν αἰτιάσεται.

If 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.

Ἐὰν ἰσχύσῃ, μόλις κομίσεται τὸ ἥμισυ, καὶ λογιεῖται αὐτὸ ὡς εὕρεμα· εἰ δὲ μὴ, ἀπεστέρησεν αὐτὸν τῶν χρημάτων αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐκτήσατο αὐτὸν ἐχθρὸν δωρεάν· κατάρας καὶ λοιδορίας ἀποδώσει αὐτῷ, καὶ ἀντὶ δόξης ἀποδώσει αὐτῷ ἀτιμίαν.

Many therefore have refused to lend for other men's ill dealing, fearing to be defrauded.

Πολλοὶ χάριν πονηρίας ἀπέστρεψαν, ἀποστερηθῆναι δωρεὰν εὐλαβήθησαν.

Yet have thou patience with a man in poor estate, and delay not to shew him mercy.

Πλὴν ἐπὶ ταπεινῷ μακροθύμησον, καὶ ἐπʼ ἐλεημοσύνην μὴ παρελκύσῃς αὐτόν·

Help the poor for the commandment's sake, and turn him not away because of his poverty.

Χάριν ἐντολῆς ἀντιλαβοῦ πένητος, καὶ κατὰ τὴν ἔνδειαν αὐτοῦ μὴ ἀποστρέψῃς αὐτὸν κενόν.

Lose thy money for thy brother and thy friend, and let it not rust under a stone to be lost.

Ἀπόλεσον ἀργύριον διʼ ἀδελφὸν καὶ φίλον, καὶ μὴ ἰωθήτω ὑπὸ τὸν λίθον εἰς ἀπώλειαν.

Lay up thy treasure according to the commandments of the most High, and it shall bring thee more profit than gold.

Θὲς τὸν θησαυρόν σου κατʼ ἐντολὰς ὑψίστου, καὶ λυσιτελήσει σοι μᾶλλον ἢ τὸ χρυσίον.

Shut up alms in thy storehouses: and it shall deliver thee from all affliction.

Σύγκλεισον ἐλεημοσύνην ἐν τοῖς ταμείοις σου, καὶ αὕτη ἐξελεῖταί σε ἐκ πάσης κακώσεως.

It shall fight for thee against thine enemies better than a mighty shield and strong spear.

Ὑπὲρ ἀσπίδα κράτους, καὶ ὑπὲρ δόρυ ἀλκῆς κατέναντι ἐχθροῦ πολεμήσει ὑπὲρ σοῦ.

An honest man is surety for his neighbour: but he that is impudent will forsake him.

Ἀνὴρ ἀγαθὸς ἐγγυήσεται τὸν πλησίον, καὶ ὁ ἀπολωλεκὼς αἰσχύνην καταλείψει αὐτόν.

Forget not the friendship of thy surety, for he hath given his life for thee.

Χάριτας ἐγγύου μὴ ἐπιλάθῃ, ἔδωκε γὰρ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ὑπὲρ σοῦ.

A sinner will overthrow the good estate of his surety:

Ἀγαθὰ ἐγγύου ἀνατρέψει ἁμαρτωλὸς,

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

καὶ ἀχάριστος ἐν διανοίᾳ ἐγκαταλείψει ῥυσάμενον.

Suretyship 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.

Ἐγγύη πολλοὺς ἀπώλεσε κατευθύνοντας, καὶ ἐσάλευσεν αὐτοὺς ὡς κῦμα θαλάσσης· ἄνδρας δυνατοὺς ἀπῴκισε, καὶ ἐπλανήθησαν ἐν ἔθνεσιν ἀλλοτρίοις.

A 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.

Ἁμαρτωλὸς ἐμπεσὼν εἰς ἐγγύην, καὶ διώκων ἐργολαβείας ἐμπεσεῖται εἰς κρίσεις.

Help thy neighbour according to thy power, and beware that thou thyself fall not into the same.

Ἀντιλαβοῦ τοῦ πλησίον κατὰ δύναμίν σου, καὶ πρόσεχε σεαυτῷ μὴ ἐμπέσῃς.

The chief thing for life is water, and bread, and clothing, and a house to cover shame.

Ἀρχὴ ζωῆς ὕδωρ, καὶ ἄρτος, καὶ ἱμάτιον, καὶ οἶκος καλύπτων ἀσχημοσύνην.

Better is the life of a poor man in a mean cottage, than delicate fare in another man's house.

Κρείσσων βίος πτωχοῦ ὑπὸ σκέπην δοκῶν, ἢ ἐδέσματα λαμπρὰ ἐν ἀλλοτρίοις.

Be it little or much, hold thee contented,

Ἐπὶ μικρῷ καὶ μεγάλῳ εὐδοκίαν ἔχε.

for it is a miserable life to go from house to house: for where thou art a stranger, thou darest not open thy mouth.

Ζωὴ πονηρὰ ἐξ οἰκίας εἰς οἰκίαν, καὶ οὗ παροικήσει, οὐκ ἀνοίξει στόμα.

Thou shalt entertain, and feast, and have no thanks: moreover thou shalt hear bitter words:

Ξενιεῖς καὶ ποτιεῖς εἰς ἀχάριστα, καὶ πρὸς ἐπὶ τούτοις πικρὰ ἀκούσῃ·

Come, thou stranger, and furnish a table, and feed me of that thou hast ready.

πάρελθε πάροικε, κόσμησον τράπεζαν, καὶ εἴτι ἐν τῇ χειρί σου ψώμισόν με·

Give place, thou stranger, to an honourable man; my brother cometh to be lodged, and I have need of mine house.

ἔξελθε πάροικε ἀπὸ προσώπου δόξης, ἐπεξένωταί μοι ὁ ἀδελφὸς, χρεία τῆς οἰκίας.

These things are grievous to a man of understanding; the upbraiding of houseroom, and reproaching of the lender.

Βαρέα ταῦτα ἀνθρώπῳ ἔχοντι φρόνησιν, ἐπιτίμησις οἰκίας καὶ ὀνειδισμὸς δανειστοῦ. ΠΕΡΙ ΤΕΚΝΩΝ.