Ben Sira 29:1-7

1 Be kind enough to lend to your neighbor when he needs help. You are keeping the Lord's commands if you help him. 1
2 If he needs something, lend it to him. And when you are in debt, pay it back as soon as you can.
3 If you meet your obligations, you will always be able to borrow what you need.
4 Many people treat a loan as something they found and can keep, causing embarrassment to those who helped them.
5 Some people will speak politely, bow, and scrape until they get the loan they want, but when the time comes to pay it back, they'll put it off, say that it's inconvenient, and make a lot of worthless excuses.
6 If the lender insists on being paid, he can count himself lucky to get back half. If he doesn't insist, the borrower has robbed him and made an unnecessary enemy. All the lender will get from him are curses, insults, and disrespect, but never any gratitude.
7 Many people refuse to lend at all, not because they are stingy, but because they don't want to be cheated if they can avoid it.

Cross References 1

  • 1. 29.1-7Exodus 22.25;Leviticus 25.35-38.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. not because . . . stingy, but because; [some manuscripts have] therefore, because of this wickedness.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.