1 de fenore
Qui facit misericordiam fenerat proximum
et qui praevalet manu mandata servat
2 fenera proximum tibi in tempore necessitatis illius
et iterum redde proximo in tempore suo
3 confirma verbum et fideliter age cum illo
et in omni tempore invenies quod tibi necessarium est
4 multi quasi inventionem aestimaverunt fenus
et praestiterunt molestiam his qui se adiuvaverunt
5 donec accipiant osculantur manum dantis
et in promissionibus humiliant vocem suam
6 et in tempore redditionis postulabit tempus
et loquetur verba acediae et murmurationum
et tempus causabitur
7 si autem potuerit reddere
aversatus
solide vix reddet dimidium
et conputabit illud quasi inventionem
8 sin autem fraudavit illum pecunia sua
et possidebit illum inimicum gratis
9 et convicia et maledicta reddet illi
et pro honore et beneficio reddet illi contumeliam
10 multi non causa nequitiae non feneraverunt
sed fraudari gratis timuerunt
11 verumtamen super humilem animo fortior esto
et pro elemosyna non trahas illum
12 propter mandatum adsume pauperem
et propter inopiam eius ne dimittas illum vacuum
13 perde pecuniam pro fratre et amico
et non abscondas illam sub lapide in perditionem
14 pone thesaurum tuum in praeceptis Altissimi
et proderit tibi magis quam aurum
15 conclude elemosynam in corde pauperis
et haec pro te exorabit ab omni malo
18 super scutum potentis et super lanceam
adversus inimicum tuum pugnabit
19 vir bonus fidem facit proximo suo
et qui perdiderit confusionem derelinquet sibi
20 gratiam fideiussoris ne obliviscaris
dedit enim pro te animam suam
21 repromissorem fugit peccator et inmundus
22 bona repromissoris sibi adscribit peccator
et ingratus sensu derelinquet liberantem se
23 vir repromittit de proximo suo
et cum perdiderit reverentiam relinquetur ab eo
24 repromissio nequissima multos perdidit dirigentes
et commovit illos quasi fluctus maris
25 viros potentes gyrans migrare fecit
et vagati sunt in gentibus alienis
26 peccator transgrediens mandata Domini
incidet in promissionem nequa
et qui conatur multa agere incidet in iudicium
27 recupera proximum secundum virtutem tuam
et adtende tibi ne incidas
28 initium vitae aqua et panis et
vestimentum
et domus protegens turpitudinem
29 melior victus pauperis sub tegimen asserum
quam epulae splendidae in peregre sine domicilio
30 super minimum et magnum placeat tibi
et inproperium peregrinationis non audies
31 vita nequa hospitandi de domo in domum
et ubi hospitabitur non fiducialiter aget nec aperiet os
32 hospitabit et pascet et potabit ingratos
et ad haec amara audiet
33 transi hospes et orna mensam
et quae in manu habes ciba ceteros
34 exi a facie honoris amicorum meorum
necessitudine domus meae hospitio
mihi factus est frater
35 gravia haec homini habenti sensum
correptio domus et inproperium feneratoris
1 He that is merciful will lend unto his neighbour; and he that strengtheneth his hand keepeth the commandments.
2 Lend to thy neighbour in time of his need, and pay thou thy neighbour again in due season.
3 Keep thy word, and deal faithfully with him, and thou shalt always find the thing that is necessary for thee.
4 Many, when a thing was lent them, reckoned it to be found, and put them to trouble that helped them.
5 Till he hath received, he will kiss a man’s hand; and for his neighbour’s money he will speak submissly: but when he should repay, he will prolong the time, and return words of grief, and complain of the time.
6 If he prevail, he shall hardly receive the half, and he will count as if he had found it: if not, he hath deprived him of his money, and he hath gotten him an enemy without cause: he payeth him with cursings and railings; and for honour he will pay him disgrace.
7 Many therefore have refused to lend for other men’s ill dealing, fearing to be defrauded.
8 Yet have thou patience with a man in poor estate, and delay not to shew him mercy.
9 Help the poor for the commandment’s sake, and turn him not away because of his poverty.
10 Lose thy money for thy brother and thy friend, and let it not rust under a stone to be lost.
11 Lay up thy treasure according to the commandments of the most High, and it shall bring thee more profit than gold.
12 Shut up alms in thy storehouses: and it shall deliver thee from all affliction.
13 It shall fight for thee against thine enemies better than a mighty shield and strong spear.
14 An honest man is surety for his neighbour: but he that is impudent will forsake him.
15 Forget not the friendship of thy surety, for he hath given his life for thee.
16 A sinner will overthrow the good estate of his surety:
17 And he that is of an unthankful mind will leave him in danger that delivered him.
18 Suretiship hath undone many of good estate, and shaken them as a wave of the sea: mighty men hath it driven from their houses, so that they wandered among strange nations.
19 A wicked man transgressing the commandments of the Lord shall fall into suretiship: and he that undertaketh and followeth other men’s business for gain shall fall into suits.
20 Help thy neighbour according to thy power, and beware that thou thyself fall not into the same.
21 The chief thing for life is water, and bread, and clothing, and an house to cover shame.
22 Better is the life of a poor man in a mean cottage, than delicate fare in another man’s house.
23 Be it little or much, hold thee contented, that thou hear not the reproach of thy house.
24 For it is a miserable life to go from house to house: for where thou art a stranger, thou darest not open thy mouth.
25 Thou shalt entertain, and feast, and have no thanks: moreover thou shalt hear bitter words:
26 Come, thou stranger, and furnish a table, and feed me of that thou hast ready.
27 Give place, thou stranger, to an honourable man; my brother cometh to be lodged, and I have need of mine house.
28 These things are grievous to a man of understanding; the upbraiding of houseroom, and reproaching of the lender.