| Chapter 29 |
1 |
He that sheweth mercy, lendeth to his neighbour: and he that is stronger in hand, keepeth the commandments. --
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2 |
Lend to thy neighbour in the time of his need, and pay thou thy neighbour again in due time. --
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3 |
Reap thy word, and deal faithfully with him: and thou shalt always find that which is necessary for thee. --
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4 |
Many have looked upon a thing lent as a thing found, and have given trouble to them that helped them. --
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5 |
Till they receive, they kiss the hands of the lender, and in promises they humble their voice: --
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6 |
But when they should repay, they will ask time, and will return tedious and murmuring words, and will complain of the time: --
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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: --
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8 |
But if not, he will defraud him of his money, and he shall get him for an enemy without cause: --
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9 |
And he will pay him with reproaches and curses, and instead of honour and good turn will repay him injuries. --
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10 |
Many have refused to lend, not out of wickedness, but they were afraid to be defrauded without cause. --
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11 |
But yet towards the poor be thou more hearty, and delay not to shew him mercy. --
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12 |
Help the poor because of the commandment: and send him not away empty handed because of his poverty. --
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13 |
Lose thy money for thy brother and thy friend: and hide it not under a stone to be lost. --
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14 |
Place thy treasure in the commandments of the most High, and it shall bring thee more profit than gold. --
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15 |
Shut up alms in the heart of the poor, and it shall obtain help for thee against all evil. --
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16 |
Better than the shield of the mighty, and better than the spear: --
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17 |
It shall fight for thee against thy enemy. --
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18 |
A good man is surety for his neighbour: and he that hath lost shame, will leave him to himself. --
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19 |
Forget not the kindness of thy surety: for he hath given his life for thee. --
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20 |
The sinner and the unclean fleeth from his surety. --
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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. --
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22 |
A man is surety for his neighbour: and when he hath lost all shame, he shall forsake him. --
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23 |
Evil suretyship hath undone many of good estate, and hath tossed them as a wave of the sea. --
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24 |
It hath made powerful men to go from place to place round about, and they have wandered in strange countries. --
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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. --
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26 |
Recover thy neighbour according to thy power, and take heed to thyself that thou fall not. --
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27 |
The chief thing for man's life is water and bread, and clothing, and a house to cover shame. --
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28 |
Better is the poor man's fare under a roof of boards, than sumptuous cheer abroad in another man's house. --
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29 |
Be contented with little instead of much, and thou shalt not hear the reproach of going abroad. --
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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. --
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31 |
He shall entertain and feed, and give drink to the unthankful, and moreover he shall hear bitter words. --
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32 |
Go, stranger, and furnish the table, and give others to eat what thou hast in thy hand. --
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33 |
Give place to the honourable presence of my friends: for I want my house, my brother being to be lodged with me. --
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34 |
These things are grievous to a man of understanding: the upbraiding of houseroom, and the reproaching of the lender. --
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