Глава 29

Lend to your neighbor, return what you borrowed in due time, and you will always find what you need. Be lenient towards the poor. Dispose of your treasure according to the commandments of the Most High, and it will bring you more benefit than if it were deposited in the form of gold. Be careful about sureties and guarantors. Be content with little, but what is yours: do not look with greed at much, but that which belongs to others. Sir.29:1 He who shows mercy lends to his neighbor, and he who supports him with his own hand keeps the commandments. Sir.29:2 Lend to your neighbor in time of need, and repay to your neighbor in due time. Sir.29:3 Keep your word firmly and be faithful to it - and you will find what you need at all times. Sir.29:4 Many considered the loan a godsend and caused grief to those who helped them. Sir.29:5 Until he receives it, he will kiss his hand and humble his neighbor’s voice for money; Sir.29:6 And at the time of return he will procrastinate and answer sadly and complain about the time. Sir.29:7 If he is able, he will bring barely half - and this will be counted as a find to him; 7. It will be charged to him as a find, i.e. will consider that for the creditor the find is already that part of the debt that was returned to him by the debtor. Sir.29:8 and if he is unable, then the lender has lost his money and without reason acquired an enemy in him: Sir.29:9 He will reward him with curses and abuse, and instead of honor he will reward him with dishonor. Sir.29:10 Because of such wickedness, many shy away from a loan, fearing to suffer a loss in vain. Sir.29:11 But be lenient towards the poor and do not hesitate to give him alms; Sir.29:12 For the sake of the commandment, help the poor and in his need do not let him go empty-handed. Sir.29:13 Spend silver for your brother and friend, and do not let it rust under a stone to destruction; Sir.29:14 Dispose of your treasure according to the commandments of the Most High, and it will bring you more benefit than gold; Sir.29:15 Put alms in your storerooms, and it will deliver you from all misfortune: Sir.29:16 She will protect you better than a strong shield and a strong spear against the enemy. 15–16. Contain in your storerooms what should serve as alms to your neighbor and this alms will be for you the most faithful bastion of your bodily and mental well-being (Matthew 7:2, 6:1–4, 19–20). Sir.29:17 A good man will vouch for his neighbor, but he who has lost his shame will leave him. Sir.29:18 Do not forget the good deeds of the guarantor; for he gave his life for you. Sir.29:19 The sinner will upset the condition of the guarantor, and the ungrateful will leave his deliverer in his soul. Sir.29:20 The guarantee brought many wealthy people into ruin and shook them like a wave of the sea; Sir.29:21 They drove out powerful men from their homes, and they wandered among foreign nations. Sir.29:22 A sinner who accepts a guarantee and seeks gain will fall into litigation. Sir.29:23 Help your neighbor according to your strength and beware lest you fall into the same thing. 17–23. A guarantee is the same as alms, but it should be done in such a way that this alms does not turn into harm for the giver and the recipient. Sir.29:24 The main need for life is water and bread, and clothing and a house to cover nakedness. Sir.29:25 Better is the life of the poor under a plank roof than luxurious feasts in other people's houses. Sir.29:26 Be content with little as with much. Sir.29:27 It is a bad life to wander from house to house, and where you settle you do not dare to open your mouth; Sir.29:28 You will serve food and drink without gratitude, and in addition you will hear bitter things: Sir.29:29 “Come here, stranger, prepare a table and, if you have anything, feed me”; Sir.29:30 “go away, stranger, for the sake of an honorable person: my brother came to visit me, I need a home.” Sir.29:31 It is difficult for a person with feeling to be reproached for sheltering in a house and reproached for doing a favor.