Old Testament
Sirach
Qui facit misericordiam fœneratur proximo suo: et qui prævalet manu mandata servat.
He that sheweth mercy, lendeth to his neighbour: and he that is stronger in hand, keepeth the commandments.
Qui fac misericordia foenera proximo suo: et qui praevale manu serva mandatos.
Fœnerare proximo tuo in tempore necessitatis illius: et iterum redde proximo in tempore suo.
Lend to thy neighbour in the time of his need, and pay thou thy neighbour again in due time.
Foenera proximo tuo in tempore de necessitate de illo: et iterum redde proximo in tempore suo.
Confirma verbum, et fideliter age cum illo: et in omni tempore invenies quod tibi necessarium est.
Keep thy word, and deal faithfully with him: and thou shalt always find that which is necessary for thee.
Confirma verbo, et fideliter age cum illo: et in omni tempore inveni quod ad te necessaria es.
Multi quasi inventionem æstimaverunt fœnus, et præstiterunt molestiam his qui se adjuverunt.
Many have looked upon a thing lent as a thing found, and have given trouble to them that helped them.
Multo quasi inventione aestima foenores, et praesta molestia ad hoc qui adiuva se.
Donec accipiant, osculantur manus dantis, et in promissionibus humiliant vocem suam:
Till they receive, they kiss the hands of the lender, and in promises they humble their voice:
Usque que accipe, oscula manus da, et in promissiones humilia voce suo:
et in tempore redditionis postulabit tempus, et loquetur verba tædii et murmurationum, et tempus causabitur.
But when they should repay, they will ask time, and will return tedious and murmuring words, and will complain of the time:
Et in tempore de redditione postula tempore, et loque verbos de taedio et de murmurationes, et tempore causora.
Si autem potuerit reddere, adversabitur: solidi vix reddet dimidium, et computabit illud quasi inventionem:
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:
Si autem pote redde, adversor: de sole vix redde dimidio, et computa illo quasi inventione:
sin autem, fraudabit illum pecunia sua, et possidebit illum inimicum gratis:
But if not, he will defraud him of his money, and he shall get him for an enemy without cause.
Sin autem, frauda illo pecunia suo, et posside illo inimico gratis:
et convitia et maledicta reddet illi, et pro honore et beneficio reddet illi contumeliam.
And he will pay him with reproaches and curses, and instead of honour and good turn will repay him injuries.
Et convitias et maledice redde ad illo, et pro honore et beneficio redde ad illo contumelia.
Multi non causa nequitiæ non fœnerati sunt, sed fraudari gratis timuerunt.
Many have refused to lend, not out of wickedness, but they were afraid to be defrauded without cause.
Multo non causa de nequitia non foenera es, sed frauda gratis time.
Verumtamen super humilem animo fortior esto, et pro eleemosyna non trahas illum.
But yet towards the poor be thou more hearty, and delay not to shew him mercy.
Verumtamen super humili animo forti es, et pro eleemosyna non trahe illo.
Propter mandatum assume pauperem, et propter inopiam ejus ne dimittas eum vacuum.
Help the poor because of the commandment: and send him not away empty handed because of his poverty.
Propter mandato abes paupere, et propter inopia de illo ne dimitte illo vacuo.
Perde pecuniam propter fratrem et amicum tuum, et non abscondas illam sub lapide in perditionem.
Lose thy money for thy brother and thy friend: and hide it not under a stone to be lost.
Perde pecunia propter fratre et amico tuo, et non absconde illa sub lapide in perditione.
Pone thesaurum tuum in præceptis Altissimi, et proderit tibi magis quam aurum.
Place thy treasure in the commandments of the most High, and it shall bring thee more profit than gold.
Pone thesauro tuo in praeceptos Altissimo, et prosum ad te magis quam auro.
Conclude eleemosynam in corde pauperis, et hæc pro te exorabit ab omni malo.
Shut up alms in the heart of the poor, and it shall obtain help for thee against all evil.
Conclude eleemosyna in corde de paupere, et hoc pro te exora ab omni malo.
Super scutum potentis
Better than the shield of the mighty, and better than the spear:
Super scuto potente
et super lanceam
It shall fight for thee against thy enemy.
Et super lancea
adversus inimicum tuum pugnabit.
A good man is surety for his neighbour: and he that hath lost shame, will leave him to himself.
Contra inimico tuo pugna.
Vir bonus fidem facit pro proximo suo: et qui perdiderit confusionem derelinquet sibi.
Forget not the kindness of thy surety: for he hath given his life for thee.
Viro bono fac fide pro proximo suo: et qui perde confusione derelinque ad se.
Gratiam fidejussoris ne obliviscaris: dedit enim pro te animam suam.
The sinner and the unclean fleeth from his surety.
Gratia de fideiusore ne obliviscor: da nam pro te anima suo.
Repromissorem fugit peccator et immundus.
A sinner attributeth to himself the goods of his surety: and he that is of an unthankful mind will leave him that delivered him.
Peccatore et immundo fuge repromissore.
Bona repromissoris sibi ascribit peccator: et ingratus sensu derelinquet liberantem se.
A man is surety for his neighbour: and when he hath lost all shame, he shall forsake him.
Bono de repromissore ad se ascribe peccatore: et ingrato sensu derelinque libera se.
Vir repromittit de proximo suo: et cum perdiderit reverentiam, derelinquetur ab eo.
Evil suretyship hath undone many of good estate, and hath tossed them as a wave of the sea.
Viro repromitte de proximo suo: et cum perde reverentia, derelinque ab eo.
Repromissio nequissima multos perdidit dirigentes, et commovit illos quasi fluctus maris.
It hath made powerful men to go from place to place round about, and they have wandered in strange countries.
Repromissione perde nequissimo multo dirige, et commove illos quasi fluctus de mari.
Viros potentes gyrans migrare fecit, et vagati sunt in gentibus alienis.
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.
Viros potente gyrante migra fac, et vagor es in gentes aliena.
Peccator transgrediens mandatum Domini incidet in promissionem nequam: et qui conatur multa agere incidet in judicium.
Recover thy neighbour according to thy power, and take heed to thyself that thou fall not.
Peccatore transgredior mandato de Domino incide in promissione nequissimo: et qui conor multo age incide in iudicio.
Recupera proximum secundum virtutem tuam, et attende tibi ne incidas.
The chief thing for man's life is water and bread, and clothing, and a house to cover shame.
Recupera proximo secundo virtute tuo, et attende ad te ne incide.
Initium vitæ hominis, aqua et panis, et vestimentum, et domus protegens turpitudinem.
Better is the poor man's fare under a roof of boards, than sumptuous cheer abroad in another man's house.
Initio de vita de homine, aqua et pane, et vestimento, et domo protege turpitudine.
Melior est victus pauperis sub tegmine asserum quam epulæ splendidæ in peregre sine domicilio.
Be contented with little instead of much, and thou shalt not hear the reproach of going abroad.
Meliore es vince paupere sub tegmine de assos quam de epula splendida in peregre sine domicilio.
Minimum pro magno placeat tibi, et improperium peregrinationis non audies.
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.
Minimo pro magna place ad te, et improperio de peregrinatione non audi.
Vita nequam hospitandi de domo in domum: et ubi hospitabitur non fiducialiter aget, nec aperiet os.
He shall entertain and feed, and give drink to the unthankful, and moreover he shall hear bitter words.
Vita nequissimo hospitor de domo in domo: et ubi hospitor non fiducialiter age, nec aperi ore.
Hospitabitur, et pascet, et potabit ingratos, et ad hæc amara audiet:
Go, stranger, and furnish the table, and give others to eat what thou hast in thy hand.
Rospita, et pasce, et pota ingrato, et ad hoc amaro audi:
transi, hospes, et orna mensam, et quæ in manu habes ciba ceteros.
Give place to the honourable presence of my friends: for I want my house, my brother being to be lodged with me.
Transi, hospite, et ori mensa, et que in manu habe ciba cetero.
Exi a facie honoris amicorum meorum: necessitudine domus meæ hospitio mihi factus est frater.
These things are grievous to a man of understanding: the upbraiding of houseroom, and the reproaching of the lender.
Exi ab facie de honore de amicos meo: necessitudine de domo meo hospitio ad me facto es fratre.
Gravia hæc homini habenti sensum: correptio domus, et improperium fœneratoris.
Gravi hoc ad homine habe sensu: correptione domo, et improperio de foeneratore.
Ecclesiasticus — chapters