He who shows mercy will lend to his neighbor, and he who strengthens with his hand keeps commandments.
The Koine Bible
The Scriptures in Greek with direct English translation.
Rahlfs Septuagint
Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 29
Greek text followed verse by verse by a direct English translation.
Text size:
Lend to your neighbor in the time of his need, and again repay to your neighbor in due time.
Strengthen a word and be trusted with it, and at every time you will find your need.
Many considered a loan as a found thing, and they caused trouble to those who helped them
οὗ λάβῃ καταφιλήσει χεῖρας αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν χρημάτων τοῦ πλησίον ταπεινώσει φωνήν καὶ ἐν καιρῷ ἀποδόσεως παρελκύσει χρόνον καὶ ἀποδώσει λόγους ἀκηδίας καὶ τὸν καιρὸν αἰτιάσεται
Until he receives, he will kiss his hands, and over his neighbor’s goods he will humble his voice, and at the time of repayment he will drag out the time, and he will repay words of weariness, and he will blame the time
ἰσχύσῃ μόλις κομίσεται τὸ ἥμισυ καὶ λογιεῖται αὐτὸ ὡς εὕρεμα εἰ δὲ μή ἀπεστέρησεν αὐτὸν τῶν χρημάτων αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐκτήσατο αὐτὸν ἐχθρὸν δωρεάν κατάρας καὶ λοιδορίας ἀποδώσει αὐτῷ καὶ ἀντὶ δόξης ἀποδώσει αὐτῷ ἀτιμίαν
If he is able, scarcely will he recover half, and he will count it as a finding; but if not, he has deprived him of his money, and he has acquired him as an enemy for nothing. He will repay him with curses and reproaches, and instead of glory he will repay him dishonor.
Many, because of wickedness, turned away; they were afraid to be deprived of a gift.
Yet toward the humble be long-suffering, and over almsgiving do not draw him out.
For the sake of a command, help the poor, and according to his need do not send him away empty.
Lose silver for a brother and a friend, and let it not be worn away under the stone into destruction.
Set your treasure according to the commandments of the Most High, and it will profit you more than gold.
Store almsgiving in your storehouses, and it will deliver you from every affliction.
He will fight for you against an enemy more than a shield of strength and more than a spear of a draw-pull.
A good man will guarantee for his neighbor, and he who has lost shame will leave him.
Do not forget the kindnesses of your guarantor, for he has given his soul on your behalf.
A sinner will overturn the good things of a guarantor, and an ungrateful man in mind will forsake the one who delivered him.
Suretyship has destroyed many who were setting things straight, and it has shaken them like a wave of the sea.
He has banished mighty men, and they wandered among foreign nations.
A sinner falling into suretyship and pursuing contracts will fall into judgments.
Take hold of your neighbor according to your ability, and take heed to yourself lest you fall into it.
The beginning of life is water and bread and clothing and a house covering shame.
Better is the life of a poor man under a roof of boards than splendid meals in another’s house
In a small matter and a great, have goodwill, and a reproach of sojourning you shall by no means hear.
A wicked life from house to house, and where you sojourn you shall not open your mouth.
You will entertain and give drink to the ungrateful, and in addition to these things you will hear bitter words.
Pass by, sojourner, prepare the table, and if anything is in your hand, feed me.
Go out, sojourner, from before glory; my brother has become a stranger to me; need of the house.
These things are grievous to a man having prudence: rebuke of a house and reproach of a lender