Chapter 29

  He that sheweth mercy, lendeth to his neighbour: and he that is stronger in hand, keepeth the commandments.  

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  Lend to thy neighbour in the time of his need, and pay thou thy neighbour again in due time.  

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  Reap thy word, and deal faithfully with him: and thou shalt always find that which is necessary for thee.  

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  Many have looked upon a thing lent as a thing found, and have given trouble to them that helped them.  

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  Till they receive, they kiss the hands of the lender, and in promises they humble their voice:  

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  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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  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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  But if not, he will defraud him of his money, and he shall get him for an enemy without cause:  

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  And he will pay him with reproaches and curses, and instead of honour and good turn will repay him injuries.  

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  Many have refused to lend, not out of wickedness, but they were afraid to be defrauded without cause.  

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  But yet towards the poor be thou more hearty, and delay not to shew him mercy.  

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  Help the poor because of the commandment: and send him not away empty handed because of his poverty.  

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  Lose thy money for thy brother and thy friend: and hide it not under a stone to be lost.  

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  Place thy treasure in the commandments of the most High, and it shall bring thee more profit than gold.  

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  Shut up alms in the heart of the poor, and it shall obtain help for thee against all evil.  

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  Better than the shield of the mighty, and better than the spear:  

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  It shall fight for thee against thy enemy.  

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  A good man is surety for his neighbour: and he that hath lost shame, will leave him to himself.  

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  Forget not the kindness of thy surety: for he hath given his life for thee.  

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  The sinner and the unclean fleeth from his surety.  

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  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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  A man is surety for his neighbour: and when he hath lost all shame, he shall forsake him.  

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  Evil suretyship hath undone many of good estate, and hath tossed them as a wave of the sea.  

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  It hath made powerful men to go from place to place round about, and they have wandered in strange countries.  

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  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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  Recover thy neighbour according to thy power, and take heed to thyself that thou fall not.  

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  The chief thing for man's life is water and bread, and clothing, and a house to cover shame.  

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  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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  Be contented with little instead of much, and thou shalt not hear the reproach of going abroad.  

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  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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  He shall entertain and feed, and give drink to the unthankful, and moreover he shall hear bitter words.  

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  Go, stranger, and furnish the table, and give others to eat what thou hast in thy hand.  

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  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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  These things are grievous to a man of understanding: the upbraiding of houseroom, and the reproaching of the lender.  

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