1  He shows mercy who lends to his neighbor, for he keeps the commandments by strengthening him.

1  He that is merciful will lend unto his neighbour; and he that strengtheneth his hand keepeth the commandments.

2  Lend to your neighbor in his time of need, and receive it again from your neighbor in his time.

2  Lend to thy neighbour in time of his need, and pay thou thy neighbour again in due season.

3  Keep your word, and act faithfully with him, and then you will find whatever you need in every time.

3  Keep thy word, and deal faithfully with him, and thou shalt always find the thing that is necessary for thee.

4  Many have treated a loan like found money, and they offered trouble to those who helped them.

4  Many, when a thing was lent them, reckoned it to be found, and put them to trouble that helped them.

5  Until they receive, they kiss the hands of the giver, and they humble their voice in promises.

5  Till he hath received, he will kiss a man’s hand; and for his neighbour’s money he will speak submissly: but when he should repay, he will prolong the time, and return words of grief, and complain of the time.

6  But at the time of repayment, they will ask for more time, and they will speak annoying and complaining words, and they will make excuses for the time.

7  Then, if he is able to repay, he will turn away. He will pay barely one half, and he will consider it as if he had found it.

Sir29:6  If he prevail, he shall hardly receive the half, and he will count as if he had found it: if not, he hath deprived him of his money, and he hath gotten him an enemy without cause: he payeth him with cursings and railings; and for honour he will pay him disgrace.

8  But if not, then he will defraud him of his money, and he will have him as an enemy without cause.

9  And he will repay him with accusations and curses, and he will repay him with contempt, instead of with honor and kindness.

10  Many have refused to lend, not because of wickedness, but because they were afraid to be defrauded without cause.

Sir29:7  Many therefore have refused to lend for other men’s ill dealing, fearing to be defrauded.

11  Yet truly, be more steadfast toward the humble, and you should not delay in acts of mercy toward them.

Sir29:8  Yet have thou patience with a man in poor estate, and delay not to shew him mercy.

12  Assist the poor because of the commandment. And you should not send him away empty because of his dire need.

Sir29:9  Help the poor for the commandment’s sake, and turn him not away because of his poverty.

13  Lose your money to your brother and your friend. For you should not hide it under a stone to be lost.

Sir29:10  Lose thy money for thy brother and thy friend, and let it not rust under a stone to be lost.

14  Let your treasure be in the precepts of the Most High, and it will benefit you more than gold.

Sir29:11  Lay up thy treasure according to the commandments of the most High, and it shall bring thee more profit than gold.

15  Store your alms in the hearts of the poor, and it will obtain help for you against all evil.

Sir29:12  Shut up alms in thy storehouses: and it shall deliver thee from all affliction.

16  Better than the shield or the lance of a powerful man,

17  it will fight for you against your enemy.

Sir29:13  It shall fight for thee against thine enemies better than a mighty shield and strong spear.

18  A good man offers credit for the sake of his neighbor. But one who abandons him to himself will perish in shame.

Sir29:14  An honest man is surety for his neighbour: but he that is impudent will forsake him.

19  You should not forget the kindness of your benefactor. For he has offered his life on your behalf.

Sir29:15  Forget not the friendship of thy surety, for he hath given his life for thee.

20  The sinner and the unclean flee from such promises.

21  A sinner attributes to himself the goods of his loan. And an ungrateful mind will abandon the one who has freed him.

Sir29:16  A sinner will overthrow the good estate of his surety

22  A man offers credit to his neighbor. But when he will have lost respect, he will abandon him.

Sir29:17  And he that is of an unthankful mind will leave him in danger that delivered him.

23  A wicked promise has destroyed many who had good intentions, and has tossed them like a wave on the ocean.

Sir29:18  Suretiship hath undone many of good estate, and shaken them as a wave of the sea: mighty men hath it driven from their houses, so that they wandered among strange nations.

24  It has caused powerful men to travel around, and they have wandered amid foreign nations.

25  A sinner transgressing the commandment of the Lord will fall into a wicked promise. And he who undertakes many things will fall into judgment.

Sir29:19  A wicked man transgressing the commandments of the Lord shall fall into suretiship: and he that undertaketh and followeth other men’s business for gain shall fall into suits.

26  Help your neighbor to recover according to your ability, but attend to yourself, lest you also fall.

Sir29:20  Help thy neighbour according to thy power, and beware that thou thyself fall not into the same.

27  The primary need in a man’s life is water and bread, and clothing, and a house to protect modesty.

Sir29:21  The chief thing for life is water, and bread, and clothing, and an house to cover shame.

28  A pauper’s food under a roof of boards is better than a splendid feast on a sojourn away from home.

Sir29:22  Better is the life of a poor man in a mean cottage, than delicate fare in another man’s house.

29  Let yourself be pleased with little instead of much, and you will not hear the reproach of being away from home.

Sir29:23  Be it little or much, hold thee contented, that thou hear not the reproach of thy house.

30  It is a wicked life to go from house to house as a guest. For wherever he is a guest, he will not act confidently, nor open his mouth.

Sir29:24  For it is a miserable life to go from house to house: for where thou art a stranger, thou darest not open thy mouth.

31  He will entertain, and feed, and give drink to the ungrateful, and beyond this, he will listen to bitter words

Sir29:25  Thou shalt entertain, and feast, and have no thanks: moreover thou shalt hear bitter words

32  “Go, my guest, and set the table, and let others eat from what you have in your hand.”

Sir29:26  Come, thou stranger, and furnish a table, and feed me of that thou hast ready.

33  “Depart from the honored face of my friends. For it has become necessary for my house to host my brother instead.”

Sir29:27  Give place, thou stranger, to an honourable man; my brother cometh to be lodged, and I have need of mine house.

34  These things are grievous to a man having understanding: to take advantage of a household, and to reproach a lender.

30:1  He who loves his son will frequently chastise him, so that he may be happy in the very end, and not grope for the doors of his neighbors.

1  He that loveth his son causeth him oft to feel the rod, that he may have joy of him in the end.

30:2  He who instructs his son will be praised over him and will glory in him, in the midst of his household.

2  He that chastiseth his son shall have joy in him, and shall rejoice of him among his acquaintance.

30:3  He who teaches his son will make his enemy jealous, and in the midst of his friends, he will glory in him.

3  He that teacheth his son grieveth the enemy: and before his friends he shall rejoice of him.

30:4  When his father has died, it will be as if he were not dead. For he will have left behind someone who is like himself.

4  Though his father die, yet he is as though he were not dead: for he hath left one behind him that is like himself.

30:5  In his life, he saw him and rejoiced in him. And at his passing, he was not sorrowful, nor was he confounded in the sight of his enemies.

5  While he lived, he saw and rejoiced in him: and when he died, he was not sorrowful.

30:6  For he left behind himself a defender of his house against his enemies, and someone who will repay his friends with kindness.

6  He left behind him an avenger against his enemies, and one that shall requite kindness to his friends.

30:7  For the sake of the souls of his sons, he will bind up his wounds, and at every voice, his gut will be stirred up.

7  He that maketh too much of his son shall bind up his wounds; and his bowels will be troubled at every cry.

30:8  An untamed horse becomes stubborn, and a child left to himself becomes headstrong.

8  An horse not broken becometh headstrong: and a child left to himself will be wilful.

30:9  Coddle a son, and he will make you afraid. Play with him, and he will make you sorrowful.

9  Cocker thy child, and he shall make thee afraid: play with him, and he will bring thee to heaviness.

30:10  You should not laugh with him; otherwise you may have grief, and in the end, your teeth be clenched.

10  Laugh not with him, lest thou have sorrow with him, and lest thou gnash thy teeth in the end.

30:11  You should not give him power in his youth, but you should not despise his thoughts.

11  Give him no liberty in his youth, and wink not at his follies.

30:12  Bow down his neck in his youth, and slap his sides while he is a child, lest perhaps he may become stubborn, and then he will not trust you, and so he will bring sorrow to your soul.

30:13  Instruct your son, and work with him, lest you give offense by his shameful behavior.

13  Chastise thy son, and hold him to labour, lest his lewd behaviour be an offence unto thee.

30:14  Better is a healthy pauper with a strong constitution, than a wealthy man who is weak and afflicted by maladies.

14  Better is the poor, being sound and strong of constitution, than a rich man that is afflicted in his body.

30:15  A healthy soul with the sanctity of justice is better than all the gold and silver. And a sound body is better than immense revenues.

15  Health and good estate of body are above all gold, and a strong body above infinite wealth.

30:16  There is no revenue above the revenue of a healthy body. And there is no delight above a joyful heart.

16  There is no riches above a sound body, and no joy above the joy of the heart. I awaked up last of all, as one that gathereth after the grapegatherers: by the blessing of the Lord I profited, and filled my winepress like a gatherer of grapes.

30:17  Death is better than a bitter life. And eternal rest is better than continual sickness.

30:18  Good things hidden in a closed mouth are like seats at a feast placed around a grave.

18  Delicates poured upon a mouth shut up are as messes of meat set upon a grave. Hear me, O ye great men of the people, and hearken with your ears, ye rulers of the congregation.

30:19  What benefit is there in an offering to an idol? For it can neither eat, nor smell.

19  What good doeth the offering unto an idol? for neither can it eat nor smell: so is he that is persecuted of the Lord. Give not thy son and wife, thy brother and friend, power over thee while thou livest, and give not thy goods to another: lest it repent thee, and thou intreat for the same again.

30:20  So is he who flees from the Lord, carrying the wages of his iniquity.

30:21  He sees with his eyes and groans, like a eunuch who embraces a virgin and sighs.

Sir30:20  He seeth with his eyes and groaneth, as an eunuch that embraceth a virgin and sigheth. As long as thou livest and hast breath in thee, give not thyself over to any.

30:22  You should not give your soul to sadness, and you should not afflict yourself by your own counsel.

Sir30:21  Give not over thy mind to heaviness, and afflict not thyself in thine own counsel. For better it is that thy children should seek to thee, than that thou shouldest stand to their courtesy.

30:23  The gladness of the heart is the life of a man, and it is a treasure of sanctity without defect. And the exultation of a man is length of life.

30:24  Take pity on your own soul by pleasing God, and show self-restraint. Gather your heart into his sanctity, and drive sadness far away from yourself.

Sir30:23  Love thine own soul, and comfort thy heart, remove sorrow far from thee: for sorrow hath killed many, and there is no profit therein. In all thy works keep to thyself the preeminence; leave not a stain in thine honour.

30:25  For sadness has killed many, and there is no usefulness in it.

30:26  Envy and anger will diminish your days, and pensiveness will bring old age before its time.

Sir30:24  Envy and wrath shorten the life, and carefulness bringeth age before the time. At the time when thou shalt end thy days, and finish thy life, distribute thine inheritance. Fodder, a wand, and burdens, are for the ass; and bread, correction, and work, for a servant.

30:27  A cheerful and good heart is like a feast. And its feasts are formed by diligence.

31:1  Watching for wealth consumes the flesh, and thinking about it takes away sleep.

Sir31:Sir34:1  Watching for riches consumeth the flesh, and the care thereof driveth away sleep.

31:2  Anticipation in thought distracts the mind, and a grievous infirmity makes the soul sober.

Sir31:Sir34:2  Watching care will not let a man slumber, as a sore disease breaketh sleep,

31:3  The rich man has labored in gathering wealth, and in his rest, he will be filled with his goods.

Sir31:Sir34:3  The rich hath great labour in gathering riches together; and when he resteth, he is filled with his delicates.

31:4  The poor man has labored in his lowly way, and in the end, he may still be in need.

Sir31:Sir34:4  The poor laboureth in his poor estate; and when he leaveth off, he is still needy.

31:5  Whoever loves gold will not be justified. And whoever pursues consumption will be consumed by it.

Sir31:Sir34:5  He that loveth gold shall not be justified, and he that followeth corruption shall have enough thereof.

31:6  Many have been caused to fall because of gold, and it became their ruin by its beauty.

Sir31:Sir34:6  Gold hath been the ruin of many, and their destruction was present.

31:7  Gold is a stumbling block to those who sacrifice for it. Woe to those who pursue it eagerly, for all the imprudent will perish by it.

Sir31:Sir34:7  It is a stumblingblock unto them that sacrifice unto it, and every fool shall be taken therewith.

31:8  Blessed is the rich man who is found to be without blemish. And blessed is he who has not gone after gold, nor placed his hope in money or treasures.

Sir31:Sir34:8  Blessed is the rich that is found without blemish, and hath not gone after gold.

31:9  Who is he? For we should praise him. For he has done wonderful things in his life.

Sir31:Sir34:9  Who is he? and we will call him blessed: for wonderful things hath he done among his people.

31:10  He has been tested by it, and has become perfect; he will have eternal glory. He was able to transgress, but he has not transgressed. He was able to do evil, but he has not done evil.

Sir31:Sir34:10  Who hath been tried thereby, and found perfect? then let him glory. Who might offend, and hath not offended? or done evil, and hath not done it?

31:11  Therefore, his good things are established in the Lord, and the entire Church of the saints will proclaim his almsgiving.

Sir31:Sir34:11  His goods shall be established, and the congregation shall declare his alms.

31:12  Are you seated at a great table? You should not open your mouth over it first.

13  You should not speak in this way: “There are many things that are upon it.”

Sir31:Sir34:12  If thou sit at a bountiful table, be not greedy upon it, and say not, There is much meat on it.

31:13  Remember that a wicked eye is evil.

14  What has been made more wicked than the eye? Therefore, when it sees, it will shed tears over the entire face.

31:14  You should not extend your hand first, for then, having been corrupted by envy, you would be ashamed.

15  You should not press forward at a feast.

Sir31:Sir34:14  Stretch not thine hand whithersoever it looketh, and thrust it not with him into the dish.

31:15  Understand which things are your neighbor’s and not your own.

Sir31:Sir34:15  Judge not thy neighbour by thyself: and be discreet in every point.

31:16  Make use of the things that are set before you, just as a frugal man would. Otherwise, if you eat much, you will be hated.

Sir31:Sir34:16  Eat as it becometh a man, those things which are set before thee; and devour not, lest thou be hated.

31:17  Cease eating first, for the sake of discipline. And do not eat to excess, lest you offend.

Sir31:Sir34:17  Leave off first for manners’ sake; and be not unsatiable, lest thou offend.

31:18  And if you sit in the midst of many, you should not extend your hand before they do, and you should not be the first to ask for a drink.

Sir31:Sir34:18  When thou sittest among many, reach not thine hand out first of all.

31:19  How sufficient is a little wine for a well-taught man! For in sleep, you will not labor because of it, and you will not feel pain.

Sir31:Sir34:19  A very little is sufficient for a man well nurtured, and he fetcheth not his wind short upon his bed.

31:20  Worry, and disease, and torment are with an intemperate man.

21  A healthy sleep is with a temperate man. He will sleep until morning, and his soul will be delighted with him.

Sir31:Sir34:20  Sound sleep cometh of moderate eating: he riseth early, and his wits are with him: but the pain of watching, and choler, and pangs of the belly, are with an unsatiable man.

31:21  And if you have been coaxed into eating too much, rise up, go outside, and vomit. And it will refresh you, and you will not bring sickness upon your body.

Sir31:Sir34:21  And if thou hast been forced to eat, arise, go forth, vomit, and thou shalt have rest.

31:22  Listen to me, son, for you should not spurn me. And in the very end, you will discover my words.

Sir31:Sir34:22  My son, hear me, and despise me not, and at the last thou shalt find as I told thee: in all thy works be quick, so shall there no sickness come unto thee.

31:23  In all your works, be prompt, and then no infirmity will befall you.

31:24  The lips of many will bless the splendid in bread. For the testimony of his truthfulness is faithful.

Sir31:Sir34:23  Whoso is liberal of his meat, men shall speak well of him; and the report of his good housekeeping will be believed.

31:25  The city will murmur against the wicked in bread. For the testimony against his wickedness is true.

Sir31:Sir34:24  But against him that is a niggard of his meat the whole city shall murmur; and the testimonies of his niggardness shall not be doubted of.

31:26  Do not choose to provoke those who love wine. For wine has destroyed many.

Sir31:Sir34:25  Shew not thy valiantness in wine; for wine hath destroyed many.

31:27  Fire tests the hardness of iron; similarly, drinking wine to inebriation will rebuke the hearts of the arrogant.

Sir31:Sir34:26  The furnace proveth the edge by dipping: so doth wine the hearts of the proud by drunkenness.

31:28  Drinking wine in sobriety gives a contented life to men. If you drink it in moderation, you will be sober.

Sir31:Sir34:27  Wine is as good as life to a man, if it be drunk moderately: what life is then to a man that is without wine? for it was made to make men glad.

31:29  What is life to him who is diminished by wine?

31:30  What can cheat him of his life? Death.

31:31  From the beginning, wine was created for cheerfulness, but not for inebriation.

31:32  Wine taken in moderation lifts up the mind and the heart.

Sir31:Sir34:28  Wine measurably drunk and in season bringeth gladness of the heart, and cheerfulness of the mind

31:33  Sober drinking is healthful to mind and body.

31:34  Wine taken in excess stirs up conflict and anger, and brings many to ruin.

Sir31:Sir34:29  But wine drunken with excess maketh bitterness of the mind, with brawling and quarrelling.

31:35  Wine taken in excess is bitter to the soul.

31:36  The effects of inebriation are a stumbling block to the imprudent, diminishing strength and causing wounds.

Sir31:Sir34:30  Drunkenness increaseth the rage of a fool till he offend: it diminisheth strength, and maketh wounds.

31:37  You should not argue with your neighbor during a banquet of wine. And you should not spurn him in his cheerfulness.

Sir31:Sir34:31  Rebuke not thy neighbour at the wine, and despise him not in his mirth: give him no despiteful words, and press not upon him with urging him to drink.

31:38  You should not speak words of reproach to him. And you should not press him with repeated requests.