29:1 He that shows mercy will lend to his neighbor, and he that strengthens him with his hand keeps the commandments.
29:2 Lend to your neighbor in the time of his need; and in turn, repay your neighbor promptly.
29:3 Confirm your word and keep faith with him, and on every occasion you will find what you need.
29:4 Many persons regard a loan as a windfall, and cause trouble to those who help them.
29:5 A man will kiss another's hands until he gets a loan, and will lower his voice in speaking of his neighbor's money; but at the time for repayment he will delay, and will pay in words of unconcern, and will find fault with the time.
29:6 If the lender exert pressure, he will hardly get back half, and will regard that as a windfall. If he does not, the borrower has robbed him of his money, and he has needlessly made him his enemy; he will repay him with curses and reproaches, and instead of glory will repay him with dishonor.
29:7 Because of such wickedness, therefore, many have refused to lend; they have been afraid of being defrauded needlessly.
29:8 Nevertheless, be patient with a man in humble circumstances, and do not make him wait for your alms.
29:9 Help a poor man for the commandment's sake, and because of his need do not send him away empty.
29:10 Lose your silver for the sake of a brother or a friend, and do not let it rust under a stone and be lost.
29:11 Lay up your treasure according to the commandments of the Most High, and it will profit you more than gold.
29:12 Store up almsgiving in your treasury, and it will rescue you from all affliction;
29:13 more than a mighty shield and more than a heavy spear, it will fight on your behalf against your enemy.
29:14 A good man will be surety for his neighbor, but a man who has lost his sense of shame will fail him.
29:15 Do not forget all the kindness of your surety, for he has given his life for you.
29:16 A sinner will overthrow the prosperity of his surety,
29:17 and one who does not feel grateful will abandon his rescuer.
29:18 Being surety has ruined many men who were prosperous, and has shaken them like a wave of the sea; it has driven men of power into exile, and they have wandered among foreign nations.
29:19 The sinner who has fallen into suretyship and pursues gain will fall into lawsuits.
29:20 Assist your neighbor according to your ability, but take heed to yourself lest you fall.
29:21 The essentials for life are water and bread and clothing and a house to cover one's nakedness.
29:22 Better is the life of a poor man under the shelter of his roof than sumptuous food in another man's house.
29:23 Be content with little or much.
29:24 It is a miserable life to go from house to house, and where you are a stranger you may not open your mouth;
29:25 you will play the host and provide drink without being thanked, and besides this you will hear bitter words:
29:26 "Come here, stranger, prepare the table, and if you have anything at hand, let me have it to eat."
29:27 "Give place, stranger, to an honored person; my brother has come to stay with me; I need my house."
29:28 These things are hard to bear for a man who has feeling: scolding about lodging and the reproach of the moneylender.
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