| 1 | He that sheweth mercy, lendeth to his neighbour: and he that is stronger in hand, keepeth the commandments. |
| 2 | Lend to thy neighbour in the time of his need, and pay thou thy neighbour again in due time. |
| 3 | Reap thy word, and deal faithfully with him: and thou shalt always find that which is necessary for thee. |
| 4 | Many have looked upon a thing lent as a thing found, and have given trouble to them that helped them. |
| 5 | Till they receive, they kiss the hands of the lender, and in promises they humble their voice: |
| 6 | But when they should repay, they will ask time, and will return tedious and murmuring words, and will complain of the time: |
| 7 | And if he be able to pay, he will stand off, he will scarce pay one half, and will count it as if he had found it: |
| 8 | But if not, he will defraud him of his money, and he shall get him for an enemy without cause: |
| 9 | And he will pay him with reproaches and curses, and instead of honour and good turn will repay him injuries. |
| 10 | Many have refused to lend, not out of wickedness, but they were afraid to be defrauded without cause. |
| 11 | But yet towards the poor be thou more hearty, and delay not to shew him mercy. |
| 12 | Help the poor because of the commandment: and send him not away empty handed because of his poverty. |
| 13 | Lose thy money for thy brother and thy friend: and hide it not under a stone to be lost. |
| 14 | Place thy treasure in the commandments of the most High, and it shall bring thee more profit than gold. |
| 15 | Shut up alms in the heart of the poor, and it shall obtain help for thee against all evil. |
| 16 | Better than the shield of the mighty, and better than the spear: |
| 17 | It shall fight for thee against thy enemy. |
| 18 | A good man is surety for his neighbour: and he that hath lost shame, will leave him to himself. |
| 19 | Forget not the kindness of thy surety: for he hath given his life for thee. |
| 20 | The sinner and the unclean fleeth from his surety. |
| 21 | A sinner attributeth to himself the goods of his surety: and he that is of an unthankful mind will leave him that delivered him. |
| 22 | A man is surety for his neighbour: and when he hath lost all shame, he shall forsake him. |
| 23 | Evil suretyship hath undone many of good estate, and hath tossed them as a wave of the sea. |
| 24 | It hath made powerful men to go from place to place round about, and they have wandered in strange countries. |
| 25 | A sinner that transgresseth the commandment of the Lord, shall fall into an evil suretyship: and he that undertaketh many things, shall fall into judgment. |
| 26 | Recover thy neighbour according to thy power, and take heed to thyself that thou fall not. |
| 27 | The chief thing for man's life is water and bread, and clothing, and a house to cover shame. |
| 28 | Better is the poor man's fare under a roof of boards, than sumptuous cheer abroad in another man's house. |
| 29 | Be contented with little instead of much, and thou shalt not hear the reproach of going abroad. |
| 30 | It is a miserable life to go as a guest from house to house: for where a man is a stranger, he shall not deal confidently, nor open his mouth. |
| 31 | He shall entertain and feed, and give drink to the unthankful, and moreover he shall hear bitter words. |
| 32 | Go, stranger, and furnish the table, and give others to eat what thou hast in thy hand. |
| 33 | Give place to the honourable presence of my friends: for I want my house, my brother being to be lodged with me. |
| 34 | These things are grievous to a man of understanding: the upbraiding of houseroom, and the reproaching of the lender. |
