Wisdom of Jesus son of Sirach 29

(ⲁ︦) ⲡⲉⲧⲉⲓⲣⲉ ............ ⲡⲉⲧϩⲓⲧⲟⲩⲱϥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲉⲧⲥⲟⲟⲩⲧⲛ̅ ⲛ̅ⲧⲟⲟⲧϥ̅ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲉϥⲁⲣⲉϩ ⲉⲛ̅ⲉⲛⲧⲟⲗⲏ. (1) He that is merciful will lend unto his neighbour; and he that strengtheneth his hand keepeth the commandments.
(ⲃ︦) ϯ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲧϩⲓⲧⲟⲩⲱⲕ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ ⲉⲧϥ̅ⲭⲣⲓⲁ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲟⲛ ⲛⲅ̅ϯ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲧϩⲓⲧⲟⲩⲱⲕ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉϥⲧⲉ. (2) Lend to thy neighbour in time of his need, and pay thou thy neighbour again in due season.
(ⲅ︦) ⲙⲁⲧⲁϫⲣⲉ ⲡϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛⲅ̅ⲧⲁⲛϩⲟⲩⲧⲕ̅ ⲛⲉⲙⲁϥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲕⲛⲁϩⲉ ⲉⲧⲉⲭⲣⲓⲁ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ ⲛⲓⲙ. (3) Keep thy word, and deal faithfully with him, and thou shalt always find the thing that is necessary for thee.
(ⲇ︦) ⲉⲣⲉ ϩⲁϩ ⲙⲉⲉⲩⲉ ϫⲉ ⲟⲩϩⲏⲩ ⲡⲉ ⲡϫⲓⲙⲏⲥⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁⲩϯϩⲓⲥⲉ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩⲃⲟⲏⲑⲓ ⲛⲁⲩ. (4) Many, when a thing was lent them, reckoned it to be found, and put them to trouble that helped them.
(ⲉ︦) ϣⲁϥϯⲡⲓ ⲉⲛⲉϥϭⲓϫ ϣⲁⲛⲧϥ̅ϫⲓ: ⲛϥ̅ⲑⲃ̅ⲃⲓⲉ ⲧⲉϥⲥⲙⲏ ϩⲓ ⲛⲉⲭⲣⲏⲙⲁ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲧϩⲓⲧⲟⲩⲱϥ. (5) Till he hath received, he will kiss a man’s hand; and for his neighbour’s money he will speak submissly:
(ⲋ︦) ϩⲙ̅ ⲡⲉⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ ⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲁⲩ ϣⲁϥⲧⲁⲗⲉ ⲛⲉ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ̈: ⲛϥ̅ϫⲱ ⲛ̅ϩⲛ̅ϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛ̅ⲙ̅ⲕⲁϩ ⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛϥ̅ϭⲛ̅ⲁⲣⲓⲕⲉ ⲉⲡⲉⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ. but when he should repay, he will prolong the time, and return words of grief, and complain of the time.
(ⲍ︦) ⲉϥϣⲁⲛϭⲙ̅ϭⲟⲙ ⲙⲟⲅⲓⲥ ϣⲁϥϫⲓ ⲧⲡⲁϣⲉ. (6) If he prevail, he shall hardly receive the half, and he will count as if he had found it:
(ⲏ︦) ⲉϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲛ ϣⲁϥϩⲟⲩⲣⲱⲱϥ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉϥⲭⲣⲏⲙⲁ ⲛϥ̅ⲕⲁⲁϥ ⲛⲁϥ ⲛ̅ϫⲁϫⲉ ⲛ̅ϫⲓⲛϫⲏ. 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;
(ⲑ︦) ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉⲡⲙⲁ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲉⲟⲟⲩ ϣⲁϥϯ ⲛⲁϥ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲥⲱϣ. and for honour he will pay him disgrace.
(ⲓ︦) ⲁ ϩⲁϩ ⲕⲧⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲧⲡⲟⲛⲏⲣⲓⲁ: ⲁⲩⲣ̅ϩⲟⲧⲉ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲩϥⲟϭⲟⲩ ⲛ̅ϫⲓⲛϫⲏ. (7) Many therefore have refused to lend for other men’s ill dealing, fearing to be defrauded.
(ⲓ︦ⲁ︦) ⲡⲗⲏⲛ ⲁⲣⲓ ϩⲁⲣϣ̅ ϩⲙ̅ ⲡⲉⲧⲑⲃ̅ⲃⲓⲏⲩ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲙ̅ⲡⲣ̅...... ⲛⲁ. (8) Yet have thou patience with a man in poor estate, and delay not to shew him mercy.
(ⲓ︦ⲃ︦) ϣ.......... ϩⲏⲕⲉ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲧⲉⲛⲧⲟⲗⲏ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲡⲉϥϭⲣⲱϩ ⲙ̅ⲡⲣ̅ⲕⲧⲟϥ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲉϥϣⲟⲩⲉⲓⲧ. (9) Help the poor for the commandment’s sake, and turn him not away because of his poverty.
(ⲓ︦ⲅ︦) ⲛⲉϫ ϩⲟⲙⲛ̅ⲧ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲥⲟⲛ ϩⲓ ϣⲃⲏⲣ: ⲛⲅ̅ⲧⲙ̅ⲧⲣⲉⲩ ⲣ̅ϣⲏⲃⲉ ϩⲁ ⲡⲱⲛⲉ ⲉⲡⲧⲁⲕⲟ. (10) Lose thy money for thy brother and thy friend, and let it not rust under a stone to be lost.
(ⲓ︦ⲇ︦) ⲕⲁ ⲡⲉⲕⲁϩⲟ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲧⲉⲛⲧⲟⲗⲏ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲧϫⲟⲥⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲥⲉⲛⲁⲣ̅ⲛⲟϥⲣⲉ ⲛⲁⲕ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲟ ⲉⲡⲛⲟⲩⲃ. (11) Lay up thy treasure according to the commandments of the most High, and it shall bring thee more profit than gold.
(ⲓ︦ⲉ︦) ⲥⲉⲩϩ ⲛⲉⲕⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲛⲁ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲛⲉⲕⲧⲁⲙⲓⲟⲛ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲥⲉⲛⲁⲧⲟⲩϫⲟⲕ ϩⲛ̅ ϩⲓⲥⲉ ⲛⲓⲙ (12) Shut up alms in thy storehouses: and it shall deliver thee from all affliction.
(ⲓ︦ⲋ︦) ⲉϩⲟⲩⲟ ⲉⲡⲧⲁϫⲣⲟ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩϭⲗ̅ⲙⲛ̅ⲧϭⲟⲙ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲙⲉⲣⲉϩ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲥⲉⲛⲁⲙⲓϣⲉ ⲉϫⲱⲕ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲙ̅ⲧⲟ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙ̅ⲡϫⲁϫⲉ. (13) It shall fight for thee against thine enemies better than a mighty shield and strong spear.
(ⲓ︦ⲍ︦) ϣⲁⲣⲉ ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛ̅ⲁⲅⲁⲑⲟⲥ ϣⲡ̅ⲧⲱⲣⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲧϩⲓⲧⲟⲩⲱϥ ϣⲁⲣⲉ ⲡⲁⲧϣⲓⲛⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲛ̅ⲧⲟϥ ⲕⲁⲁϥ ⲛ̅ⲥⲱϥ. (14) An honest man is surety for his neighbour: but he that is impudent will forsake him.
(ⲓ︦ⲏ︦) ⲙ̅ⲡⲣ̅ⲣ̅ⲡⲱⲃϣ̅ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲭⲁⲣⲓⲥ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩϣⲡ̅ⲧⲱⲣⲉ: ⲁϥϯ ⲧⲉϥⲯⲩⲭⲏ ⲅⲁⲣ ϩⲁⲣⲟⲕ. (15) Forget not the friendship of thy surety, for he hath given his life for thee.
(ⲓ︦ⲑ︦) ϣⲁⲣⲉ ⲡⲣⲉϥⲣ̅ⲛⲟⲃⲉ ⲣ̅ⲡⲱⲃϣ ⲛ̅ⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩϣⲡ̅ⲧⲱⲣⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ϣⲁⲣⲉ ⲡⲁⲧϩⲙⲟⲧ ϩⲙ̅ ⲡⲉϥϩⲏⲧ ...... ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲧⲁϥⲛⲁϩⲙⲉϥ. (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.
(ⲕ︦) ⲁ ϣⲡ̅ⲧⲱⲣⲉ ⲧⲁⲕⲉ ⲙⲏⲏϣⲉ ⲉⲩⲥⲟⲩⲧⲱⲛ ........................... ⲑⲁⲗⲁⲥⲥⲁ (18) Suretiship hath undone many of good estate, and shaken them as a wave of the sea:
(ⲕ︦ⲁ︦) ⲁϥ........ ⲛ̅ⲛ̅ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛ̅ⲇⲩⲛⲁⲧⲟⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁⲩⲡⲗⲁⲛⲁ ϩⲛ̅ ϩⲛ̅ϩⲉⲑⲛⲟⲥ ⲉⲛⲛⲟⲩⲟⲩ ⲁⲛ ⲛⲉ. mighty men hath it driven from their houses, so that they wandered among strange nations.
(ⲕ︦ⲃ︦) ⲡⲣⲉϥⲣ̅ⲛⲟⲃⲉ ⲉϥⲉϩⲉ ⲉⲩⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲣⲉϥϣⲡ̅ⲧⲱⲣⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲉⲧⲡⲏⲧ ⲛ̅ⲥⲁ ϩⲉⲛⲉⲣⲅⲟⲗⲁⲃⲓⲁ ⲙⲁⲣⲉϥϩⲉ ⲉⲩϫⲓϩⲁⲡ. (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.
(ⲕ︦ⲅ︦) ϣⲱⲡ ⲉⲣⲟⲕ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲧϩⲓⲧⲟⲩⲱⲕ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲧⲉⲕϭⲟⲙ ⲁⲩⲱ ϯϩⲧⲏⲕ ⲉⲣⲟⲕ ⲙⲏⲡⲟⲧⲉ ⲛⲅ̅ϩⲉ. (20) Help thy neighbour according to thy power, and beware that thou thyself fall not into the same.
(ⲕ︦ⲇ︦) ⲧⲁⲣⲭⲏ ⲛ̅ϭⲓⲛⲱⲛϩ̅ ⲡⲉ ⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓⲕ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲙⲟⲟⲩ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲟⲩϣⲧⲏⲛ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲏⲓ̈ ⲉϥϩⲱⲃⲥ̅ ⲙ̅ⲡϣⲓⲡⲉ. (21) The chief thing for life is water, and bread, and clothing, and an house to cover shame.
(ⲕ︦ⲉ︦) ⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩ ⲧϭⲓⲛⲱⲛϩ̅ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩϩⲏⲕⲉ ⲉϥⲟⲩⲏϩ ϩⲁ ⲧⲟⲩⲉϩⲥⲟⲓ̈ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉϥⲏⲓ̈ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲟ ϩⲛ̅ⲛⲟϭ ⲛ̅ϭⲓⲛⲟⲩⲟⲟⲙ ϩⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲏⲓ̈ ⲉⲙⲡⲱⲕ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ. (22) Better is the life of a poor man in a mean cottage, than delicate fare in another man’s house.
(ⲕ︦ⲋ︦) ϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲉⲕⲧⲏⲕ ⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧ ⲉϫⲛ̅ ⲡⲉⲧⲉ ⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲕϥ̅. (23) Be it little or much, hold thee contented, that thou hear not the reproach of thy house.
(ⲕ︦ⲍ︦) ⲟⲩ ϭⲓⲛⲱⲛϩ̅ ⲉⲥϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲱⲛⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲏⲓ̈ ⲉⲟⲩⲏⲓ̈ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲉϥⲉϣⲟⲩⲱⲛ ⲛ̅ⲣⲱϥ ϩⲙ̅ ⲡⲉϥⲙⲁ ⲛ̅ϣⲱⲡⲉ. (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.
(ⲕ︦ⲏ︦) ϣⲁϥϯⲧⲁⲉⲓⲟ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲅ̅ⲧⲥⲉⲓⲟ ......ⲟⲩ ⲉϩⲙⲟⲧ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲙⲛ̅ⲛ̅ⲥⲁ ⲛⲁⲓ̈ ϣⲁϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅ ⲉϩⲉⲛϣⲁϫⲉ ⲉⲩⲛⲁϣⲧ̅. (25) Thou shalt entertain, and feast, and have no thanks: moreover thou shalt hear bitter words:
(ⲕ︦ⲑ︦) ϫⲉ ⲁⲙⲟⲩ ⲡⲣⲙ̅ⲛ̅ϣϭⲟⲣ ⲙⲁⲧⲁⲙⲓⲉ ⲟⲩⲧⲣⲁⲡⲉⲍⲁ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲙⲁⲧⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲓ̈ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲧⲉⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲕϥ̅. (26) Come, thou stranger, and furnish a table, and feed me of that thou hast ready.
(ⲗ︦) ⲃⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲡⲣⲙ̅ⲛ̅ϣϭⲟⲣ ϩⲁⲑⲏ ⲙ̅ⲡⲁⲓ̈ ⲉⲧⲧⲁⲉⲓⲏⲩ: ⲁ ⲡⲁⲥⲟⲛ ϭⲟⲉⲓⲗⲉ ⲉⲣⲟⲓ̈ ϯⲣ̅ⲭⲣⲓⲁ ⲙ̅ⲡⲁⲏⲓ̈. (27) Give place, thou stranger, to an honourable man; my brother cometh to be lodged, and I have need of mine house.
(ⲗ︦ⲁ︦) ⲛⲁⲓ̈ϩⲟⲣϣ̅ ⲛ̅ⲛⲁϩⲣⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛ̅ⲥⲁⲃⲉ ⲧⲉⲡⲓⲧⲓⲙⲓⲁ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲏⲓ̈ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲡⲛⲟϭⲛⲉϭ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲇⲁⲛⲓⲥⲧⲏⲥ. ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲡϣⲏⲣⲉ. (28) These things are grievous to a man of understanding; the upbraiding of houseroom, and reproaching of the lender.