1He who shows mercy will lend to his neighbor.
He who strengthens him with his hand keeps the commandments.
2Lend to your neighbor in time of his need.
Repay your neighbor on time.
3Confirm your word, and keep faith with him;
and at all seasons you will find what you need.
4Many have considered a loan to be a windfall,
and have given trouble to those who helped them.
5Until he has received, he will kiss a man’s hands.
For his neighbor’s money he will speak submissively.
Then when payment is due, he will prolong the time,
return excuses, and complain about the season.
6If he prevails, the creditor will hardly receive 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 cursing and railing.
Instead of honor, he will pay him disgrace.
7Many on account of fraud have turned away.
They are afraid of being defrauded for nothing.
8However be patient with a man in poor estate.
Don’t keep him waiting for your alms.
9Help a poor man for the commandment’s sake.
According to his need don’t send him empty away.
10Lose your money for a brother and a friend.
Don’t let it rust under a stone and be lost.
11Allocate your treasure according to the commandments of the Most High
and it will profit you more than gold.
12Store up almsgiving in your store-chambers
and it will deliver you out of all affliction.
13It will fight for you against your enemy
better than a mighty shield and a ponderous spear.
14A good man will be surety for his neighbor.
He who has lost shame will fail him.
15Don’t forget the kindness of your guarantor,
for he has given his life for you.
16A sinner will waste the property of his guarantor.
17He who is thankless will fail him who delivered him.
18Being surety has undone many who were prospering
and shaken them as a wave of the sea.
It has driven mighty men from their homes.
They wandered among foreign nations.
19A sinner who falls into suretiship and undertakes contracts for work
will fall into lawsuits.
20Help your neighbor according to your power,
and be careful not to fall yourself.
21The essentials of life are water, bread,
a garment, and a house for privacy.
22Better is the life of a poor man under a shelter of logs
than sumptuous fare in another man’s house.
23With little or with much, be well satisfied.
24It is a miserable life to go from house to house.
Where you are a guest, you dare not open your mouth.
25You will entertain, serve drinks, and have no thanks.
In addition to this, you will hear bitter words.
26“Come here, you sojourner, set a table,
and if you have anything in your hand, feed me with it.”
27“Leave, you sojourner, for an honored guest is here.
My brother has come to be my guest. I need my house.”
28These things are grievous to a man of understanding:
The scolding about lodging and the insults of creditors.