Lending and Repayment

1 He who shows mercy will lend to his neighbor. He who strengthens him with his hand keeps the commandments. 2 Lend to your neighbor in time of his need. Repay your neighbor on time. 3 Stand by your word, and keep faith with him, and at all times you will find what you need. 4 Many have considered a loan to be a windfall, and have given trouble to those who helped them. 5 Until he has received it, he will kiss a man’s hands. For his neighbor’s money he will speak submissively. Then when payment is due, he will prolong the time, return excuses, and complain about the timing. 6 If he prevails, the creditor will hardly receive half, and he will count it as a windfall. If not, he has deprived him of his money, and he has made him an enemy without cause. He will pay him with curses and abuse. Instead of honor, he will repay him with disgrace. 7 Many because of fraud have turned away. They are afraid of being defrauded for nothing.

Generosity to the Poor

8 However be patient with a man in poor circumstances. Don’t keep him waiting for your gifts to the poor. 9 Help a poor man for the commandment’s sake. Don’t send him away empty-handed when he is in need.⁠a 10 Lose your money for a brother and a friend. Don’t let it rust under a stone and be lost.⁠b 11 Allocate your treasure according to the commandments of the Most High and it will profit you more than gold.⁠c 12 Store up your giving to the poor in your storehouses and it will rescue you from all distress.⁠d 13 It will fight for you against your enemy better than a mighty shield and a heavy spear.

Guaranteeing Another Person’s Debt

14 A good man will guarantee his neighbor’s debt. He who has lost shame will fail him.⁠e 15 Don’t forget the kindness of your guarantor, for he has given his life for you. 16 A sinner will waste the property of his guarantor. 17 He who is thankless will fail him who delivered him. 18 Guaranteeing debts has ruined many who were prospering and shaken them like a wave of the sea. It has driven powerful men from their homes. They wandered among foreign nations. 19 A sinner who falls into guaranteeing a debt and undertakes contracts for work will fall into lawsuits. 20 Help your neighbor as much as you can, and be careful not to fall yourself.⁠f

Contentment and Independence

21 The essentials of life are water, bread, clothing, and a house for privacy. 22 A poor man’s life under a shelter of logs is better than rich food in another man’s house. 23 With little or with much, be well satisfied. 24 It is a miserable life to go from house to house. Where you are a guest, you don’t dare to open your mouth. 25 You will entertain, serve drinks, and have no thanks. In addition to this, you will hear bitter words. 26 “Come here, you stranger, set a table, and if you have anything in your hand, feed me with it.” 27 “Leave, you stranger, for an honored guest is here. My brother has come to be my guest. I need my house.” 28 These things are painful to a man of understanding: The scolding about lodging and the insults of creditors.