[1] He that shows mercy will lend to his neighbor; And he that strengtheneth him with his hand keepeth the commandments.
[2] Lend to your neighbor in time of his need; And pay you your neighbor again in due season.
[3] Confirm your word, and keep faith with him; And at all seasons you shall find what you needest.
[4] Many have reckoned a loan as a windfall, And have given trouble to those that helped them.
[5] Till he has received, he will kiss a man's hands; And for his neighbor's money he will speak submissly: And when payment is due, he will prolong the time, And return words of heaviness, and complain of the times.
[6] If he prevail, he shall hardly receive the half; And he will count it as a windfall: If not, he has deprived him of his money, And he has gotten him for an enemy without cause: He will pay him with cursings and railings; And for honor he will pay him disgrace.
[7] Many on account ofmen's ill-dealing have turned away; They have feared to be defrauded for nothing.
[8] Howbeit with a man in poor estate be longsuffering; And let him not wait foryour alms.
[9] Help a poor man for the commandment's sake; And according to his need send him not empty away.
[10] Loseyour money for a brother and a friend; And let it not rust under the stone to be lost.
[11] Bestow your treasure according to the commandments of the Most High; And it shall profit you more than gold.
[12] Shut up alms in your store-chambers; And it shall deliver you out of all affliction:
[13] It shall fight for you against your enemy Better than a mighty shield and a ponderous spear.
[14] A good man will be surety for his neighbor; And he that has lost shame will fail him.
[15] Forget not the good offices of your surety; For he has given his life for you.
[16] A sinner will overthrow the good estate of his surety;
[17] And he that is of an unthankful mind will fail him that delivered him.
[18] Suretiship has undone many that were prospering, And shaken them as a wave of the sea: Mighty men has it driven from their homes; And they wandered among strange nations.
[19] A sinner that falls into suretiship, And undertaketh contracts for work, shall fall into lawsuits.
[20] Help your neighbor according to your power, And take heed to thyself that you fall notto the same.
[21] The chief thing for life is water, and bread, And a garment, and a house to cover shame.
[22] Better is the life of a poor man under a shelter of logs, Than sumptuous fare in another man's house.
[23] With little or with much, be well satisfied.
[24] It is a miserable life to go from house to house: And where you are a sojourner, you shall notdare to open your mouth.
[25] You shall entertain, and give to drink, and have no thanks: And besides this you shall hear bitter words.
[26] Come hither, you sojourner, furnish a table, And if you have anything in your hand, feed me with it.
[27] Go forth, you sojourner, from the face of honor; My brother is come to be my guest; I have need of my house.
[28] These things are grievous to a man of understanding; The upbraiding of house-room, and the reproaching of the money-lender.