Wisdom of Solomon 1:16-2:11
But the ungodly by their words and deeds summoned death;d considering him a friend, they pined away and made a covenant with him, because they are fit to belong to his company.
2 For they reasoned unsoundly, saying to themselves, “Short and sorrowful is our life, and there is no remedy when a life comes to its end, and no one has been known to return from Hades.
2 For we were born by mere chance, and hereafter we shall be as though we had never been, for the breath in our nostrils is smoke, and reason is a spark kindled by the beating of our hearts;
3 when it is extinguished, the body will turn to ashes, and the spirit will dissolve like empty air.
4 Our name will be forgotten in time, and no one will remember our works; our life will pass away like the traces of a cloud, and be scattered like mist that is chased by the rays of the sun and overcome by its heat.
5 For our allotted time is the passing of a shadow, and there is no return from our death, because it is sealed up and no one turns back.
6 “Come, therefore, let us enjoy the good things that exist, and make use of the creation to the full as in youth.
7 Let us take our fill of costly wine and perfumes, and let no flower of spring pass us by.
8 Let us crown ourselves with rosebuds before they wither. 9 Let none of us fail to share in our revelry;
everywhere let us leave signs of enjoyment,
because this is our portion, and this our lot. 10 Let us oppress the righteous poor man;
let us not spare the widow
or regard the gray hairs of the aged. 11 But let our might be our law of right, for what is weak proves itself to be useless. 1
Tobit 4:5-11
5 “Revere the Lord all your days, my son, and refuse to sin or to transgress his commandments. Live uprightly all the days of your life, and do not walk in the ways of wrongdoing; 6 for those who act in accordance with truth will prosper in all their activities. To all those who practice righteousnessb 7 give alms from your possessions, and do not let your eye begrudge the gift when you make it. Do not turn your face away from anyone who is poor, and the face of God will not be turned away from you. 8 If you have many possessions, make your gift from them in proportion; if few, do not be afraid to give according to the little you have. 9 So you will be laying up a good treasure for yourself against the day of necessity. 10 For almsgiving delivers from death and keeps you from going into the Darkness. 11 Indeed, almsgiving, for all who practice it, is an excellent offering in the presence of the Most High.1
Sirach 29:8-23
8 Nevertheless, be patient with someone in humble circumstances, and do not keep him waiting for your alms.
9 Help the poor for the commandment’s sake,
and in their need do not send them away empty-handed. Lose your silver for the sake of a brother or a friend,
and do not let it rust under a stone and be lost. Lay up your treasure according to the commandments of the Most High,
and it will profit you more than gold. Store up almsgiving in your treasury,
and it will rescue you from every disaster; better than a stout shield and a sturdy spear,
it will fight for you against the enemy.
On Guaranteeing Debts
A good person will be surety for his neighbor, but the one who has lost all sense of shame will fail him.
Do not forget the kindness of your guarantor, for he has given his life for you.
A sinner wastes the property of his guarantor, and the ungrateful person abandons his rescuer.
Being surety has ruined many who were prosperous, and has tossed them about like waves of the sea;
it has driven the influential into exile, and they have wandered among foreign nations.
19 The sinner comes to grief through surety; his pursuit of gain involves him in lawsuits.
20 Assist your neighbor to the best of your ability, but be careful not to fall yourself.
Home and Hospitality
21 The necessities of life are water, bread, and clothing, and also a house to assure privacy.
22 Better is the life of the poor under their own crude roof than sumptuous food in the house of others.
23 Be content with little or much, and you will hear no reproach for being a guest.d1
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