Sirach 29:5 - Till he has received, he will kiss a man’s hands; And for his neighbor’s money he will speak submissly: And when payment is due, he will prolong the time, And return words of heaviness, and complain of the times.
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What does "Sirach 29:5" mean?
This verse from Sirach 29:5 describes the behavior of someone who is borrowing money and highlights the shift in their demeanor before, during, and after the loan. Let's break it down:
"Till he has received, he will kiss a man’s hands; And for his neighbor’s money he will speak submissly:" This depicts the borrower being extremely flattering and obsequious before receiving the loan. They will go to great lengths to be agreeable and ingratiate themselves with the lender. "Kissing a man's hands" is a metaphor for excessive deference and flattery. Speaking "submissly" means they are very humble and respectful, even to the point of being subservient, in their speech. Their only goal is to secure the loan.
"And when payment is due, he will prolong the time, And return words of heaviness, and complain of the times." This describes a complete change in attitude when the loan needs to be repaid. Instead of being humble and respectful, they become evasive. "Prolong the time" means they will try to delay the payment as long as possible, offering excuses and stalling. "Words of heaviness" suggests they will become sullen, gloomy, and perhaps even rude or resentful. Finally, they will "complain of the times," meaning they will blame external circumstances (economic hardship, bad luck, etc.) for their inability to repay, absolving themselves of personal responsibility.
In essence, the verse paints a picture of a dishonest borrower who is charming and flattering when seeking a loan but becomes evasive, resentful, and blames external factors when it's time to pay it back. It serves as a warning about the potential risks of lending and the importance of carefully considering the character of the borrower. The verse is highlighting the hypocrisy and unreliability of such a person.
Sirach 29:5 - Till he has received, he will kiss a man’s hands; And for his neighbor’s money he will speak submissly: And when payment is due, he will prolong the time, And return words of heaviness, and complain of the times.
What does "Sirach 29:5" mean?
This verse from Sirach 29:5 describes the behavior of someone who is borrowing money and highlights the shift in their demeanor before, during, and after the loan. Let's break it down:
"Till he has received, he will kiss a man’s hands; And for his neighbor’s money he will speak submissly:" This depicts the borrower being extremely flattering and obsequious before receiving the loan. They will go to great lengths to be agreeable and ingratiate themselves with the lender. "Kissing a man's hands" is a metaphor for excessive deference and flattery. Speaking "submissly" means they are very humble and respectful, even to the point of being subservient, in their speech. Their only goal is to secure the loan.
"And when payment is due, he will prolong the time, And return words of heaviness, and complain of the times." This describes a complete change in attitude when the loan needs to be repaid. Instead of being humble and respectful, they become evasive. "Prolong the time" means they will try to delay the payment as long as possible, offering excuses and stalling. "Words of heaviness" suggests they will become sullen, gloomy, and perhaps even rude or resentful. Finally, they will "complain of the times," meaning they will blame external circumstances (economic hardship, bad luck, etc.) for their inability to repay, absolving themselves of personal responsibility.
In essence, the verse paints a picture of a dishonest borrower who is charming and flattering when seeking a loan but becomes evasive, resentful, and blames external factors when it's time to pay it back. It serves as a warning about the potential risks of lending and the importance of carefully considering the character of the borrower. The verse is highlighting the hypocrisy and unreliability of such a person.