The .xxix. Chapter.
1 Howe we ought to lende our money, and do almes. 15 Of a faythfull man aun∣swering for his friende. 22 Of liberalitie and hospitalitie.
[unspec A] 1 WHo so will shewe mer∣cie, * 1.1let hym lende vnto his neyghbour: and he that is able, let him kepe the commaunde∣mentes.
2 Lend vnto thy neygh∣bour in time of his neede, and paye thou thy neyghbour againe in due season.
3 Kepe thy worde, and deale faythfully with him: and thou shalt alway finde the thing that is necessarie for thee.
4 There haue ben many, that when a thing was lent them, reckened it to be founde, and made them trauayle and la∣bour that had helped them.
5 Whyle they receaue any thing, they kisse the handes of such as geue them, and for their neyghbours good they humble their voyce: but when they should paye againe, they kepe it backe, and geue euyl wordes, and make many excuses by rea∣son of the time.
6 And though he be able, yet geueth he scarse the halfe againe, and reckeneth the other to be founde: And if he with∣holde not his money, yet hath he an enemie of him, and that vndeserued: He payeth him with cursing and rebuke, and geueth him euyll wordes for his good deede.
7 There be many one which are not glad [unspec B] for to lende, not because of euyl: but they feare to lose the thing that they lende.
8 Yet haue thou patience with the simple, and withholde not mercie from him.
9 Helpe the poore for the commaunde∣mentes sake, and let hym not go emptie from thee, because of his necessitie.
10 Lose thy money for thy brother and neyghbours sake, and burie it not vnder a stone where it rusteth and corrup∣teth.
11 * 1.2Gather thy treasure after the com∣maundement of the hyghest, and so shal it bring thee more profite then golde.
12 * 1.3Lay vp thyne almes “ 1.4 in the hande of the poore, and it shall kepe thee from all euyll.
13 * 1.5A mans almes is as a purse with him, & shal kepe a mans fauour as the apple of an eye: and afterwarde shall it arise and paye euery man his rewarde vpon his head.
14 It shall fight for thee against thyne [unspec C] enemies, better then the shielde of a gy∣aunt or speare of the mightie.
15 A good honest man is a suertie for his neyghbour, but a wicked person: let∣teth him come to shame.
16 Forget not the friendship of thy suertie: for he hath geuen his soule for thee.
17 The vngodly despiseth the good deede of his suertie.
18 (a) 1.6The wicked will not become suertie, and the vnthankeful and ignoraunt lea∣ueth his suertie in daunger.
19 Some man promiseth for his neygh∣bour: & when he hath lost his honestie, he shall forsake him.
20 Suertishippe hath destroyed many a riche man, and remoued them as the waues in the sea: Mightie people hath it dryuen away, and caused them to wander in straunge countreys.
21 An vngodly man transgressing the [unspec D] commaundement of the Lorde, shall fal into an euyll suertiship: and though he force him selfe to get out, yet shall he fall into iudgement.
22 Helpe thy neyghbour out after thy power, and beware that thou thy selfe fall not in such debte.
23 * 1.7The chiefe thing that kepeth in thy life, is water, & bread, clothing, and lod∣ging, to couer the shame.
24 Better is it to haue a poore lyuing in a mans owne house, then delicate fare a∣mong the straunge.
25 * 1.8Be it litle or much that thou hast, hold thee content withall: and thou shalt not be blamed as a vagabounde.