| 1 | He shows mercy who lends to his neighbor, for he keeps the commandments by strengthening him. |
| 2 | Lend to your neighbor in his time of need, and receive it again from your neighbor in his time. |
| 3 | Keep your word, and act faithfully with him, and then you will find whatever you need in every time. |
| 4 | Many have treated a loan like found money, and they offered trouble to those who helped them. |
| 5 | Until they receive, they kiss the hands of the giver, and they humble their voice in promises. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 11 | Yet truly, be more steadfast toward the humble, and you should not delay in acts of mercy toward them. |
| 12 | Assist the poor because of the commandment. And you should not send him away empty because of his dire need. |
| 13 | Lose your money to your brother and your friend. For you should not hide it 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. |
| 15 | Store your alms in the hearts of the poor, and it will obtain help for you against all evil. |
| 16 | Better than the shield or the lance of a powerful man, |
| 17 | it will fight for you against your enemy. |
| 18 | A good man offers credit for the sake of his neighbor. But one who abandons him to himself will perish in shame. |
| 19 | You should not forget the kindness of your benefactor. For he has offered his life on your behalf. |
| 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. |
| 22 | A man offers credit to his neighbor. But when he will have lost respect, he will abandon him. |
| 23 | A wicked promise has destroyed many who had good intentions, and has tossed them like a wave on the ocean. |
| 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. |
| 26 | Help your neighbor to recover according to your ability, but attend to yourself, lest you also fall. |
| 27 | The primary need in a man's life is water and bread, and clothing, and a house to protect modesty. |
| 28 | A pauper's food under a roof of boards is better than a splendid feast on a sojourn away from home. |
| 29 | Let yourself be pleased with little instead of much, and you will not hear the reproach of being away from home. |
| 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. |
| 31 | He will entertain, and feed, and give drink to the ungrateful, and beyond this, he will listen to bitter words: |
| 32 | "Go, my guest, and set the table, and let others eat from what you have in your hand." |
| 33 | "Depart from the honored face of my friends. For it has become necessary for my house to host my brother instead." |
| 34 | These things are grievous to a man having understanding: to take advantage of a household, and to reproach a lender. |
