Sirach 29:21-28

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

²¹ The necessities of life are water, bread, and clothing,
    and also a house to assure privacy.^(A)
22 Better is the life of the poor under their own crude roof
    than sumptuous food in the house of strangers.^(B)
23 Be content with little or much,
    and you will hear no reproach for being a guest.^[a](C)
24 It is a miserable life to go from house to house;
    as a guest you should not open your mouth;^(D)
25 you will play the host and provide drink without being thanked,
    and besides this you will hear rude words like these:
²⁶ “Come here, stranger, prepare the table;
    let me eat what you have there.”
²⁷ “Be off, stranger, for an honored guest is here;
    my brother has come for a visit, and I need the house.”^(E)
28 It is hard for a sensible person to bear
    scolding about lodging^[b] and the insults of the moneylender.^(F)