1 He does a kindness who lends to his neighbor, and he fulfills the precepts who holds out a helping hand.
2 Lend to your neighbor in his hour of need, and pay back your neighbor when a loan falls due;
3 Keep your promise, be honest with him, and you will always come by what you need.
4 Many a man who asks for a loan adds to the burdens of those who help him;
5 When he borrows, he kisses the lender's hand and speaks with respect of his creditor's wealth; But when payment is due he disappoints him and says he is helpless to meet the claim.
6 If the lender is able to recover barely half, he considers this an achievement; If not, he is cheated of his wealth and acquires an enemy at no extra charge; With curses and insults the borrower pays him back, with abuse instead of honor.
7 Many refuse to lend, not out of meanness, but from fear of being cheated.
8 To a poor man, however, be generous; keep him not waiting for your alms;
9 Because of the precept, help the needy, and in their want, do not send them away empty-handed.
10 Spend your money for your brother and friend, and hide it not under a stone to perish;
11 Dispose of your treasure as the Most High commands, for that will profit you more than the gold.
12 Store up almsgiving in your treasure house, and it will save you from every evil;
13 Better than a stout shield and a sturdy spear it will fight for you against the foe.
14 A good man goes surety for his neighbor, and only the shameless would play him false;
15 Forget not the kindness of your backer, for he offers his very life for you.
16 The wicked turn a pledge on their behalf into misfortune, and the ingrate abandons his protector;
17 Going surety has ruined many prosperous men and tossed them about like waves of the sea,
18 Has exiled men of prominence and sent them wandering through foreign lands.
19 The sinner through surety comes to grief, and he who undertakes too much falls into lawsuits.
20 Go surety for your neighbor according to your means, but take care lest you fall thereby.
21 Life's prime needs are water, bread, and clothing, a house, too, for decent privacy.
22 Better a poor man's fare under the shadow of one's own roof than sumptuous banquets among strangers.
23 Be it little or much, be content with what you have, and pay no heed to him who would disparage your home;
24 A miserable life it is to go from house to house, for as a guest you dare not open your mouth.
25 The visitor has no thanks for filling the cups; besides, you will hear these bitter words:
26 "Come here, stranger, set the table, give me to eat the food you have!
27 Away, stranger, for one more worthy; for my brother's visit I need the room!"
28 Painful things to a sensitive man are abuse at home and insults from his creditors.
Versículos relacionados com Ecclesiasticus, 29:
Ecclesiastical 29 talks about the importance of friendship and money loan. The chapter begins with a reflection on the happiness of having true and reliable friends, and also addresses the theme of money loan to friends and the need to be careful on this subject. Based on these themes, below are five related verses:
Proverbs 17:17: "At all times the friend loves and for the time of anguish the brother is born." This verse talks about the importance of true friendship, which must be cultivated at all times, especially in difficult times.
Proverbs 19:17: "He who treats the poor well lends the Lord who will pay him for his benefit." This verse talks about kindness in helping the poor and needy, showing that lending money to those who need is a way to help others.
Proverbs 22:7: "The rich dominates over the poor, and what he borrows is a servant of what he lends." This verse addresses the danger of straightening and subordinate to the creditor, showing that it is important to act with financial wisdom.
Luke 6:34-35: "And if they lend to those of whom you expect to receive, what merit do you have? In return, and great will be your reward, and you shall be children of the Most High; for he is benign even to the ungrateful and evil. " This verse shows that we should lend not only to those we hope to receive back, but also to those who are not our friends and enemies, acting with love and generosity.
Romans 13:8: "No one should do anything but the love with which you love to each other; for the one who loves others fulfilled the law." This verse emphasizes the importance of not having anything to anyone, showing that it is important to be honest and just in all our financial and interpersonal relationships.
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