Sirach
31:1 Watching for riches consumeth the flesh, and the care thereof driveth
away sleep.
31:2 Watching care will not let a man slumber, as a sore disease breaketh
sleep,
31:3 The rich hath great labour in gathering riches together; and when he
resteth, he is filled with his delicates.
31:4 The poor laboureth in his poor estate; and when he leaveth off, he is
still needy.
31:5 He that loveth gold shall not be justified, and he that followeth
corruption shall have enough thereof.
31:6 Gold hath been the ruin of many, and their destruction was present.
31:7 It is a stumblingblock unto them that sacrifice unto it, and every fool
shall be taken therewith.
31:8 Blessed is the rich that is found without blemish, and hath not gone
after gold.
31:9 Who is he? and we will call him blessed: for wonderful things hath he
done among his people.
31:10 Who hath been tried thereby, and found perfect? then let him glory. Who
might offend, and hath not offended? or done evil, and hath not done it?
31:11 His goods shall be established, and the congregation shall declare his
alms.
31:12 If thou sit at a bountiful table, be not greedy upon it, and say not,
There is much meat on it.
31:13 Remember that a wicked eye is an evil thing: and what is created more
wicked than an eye? therefore it weepeth upon every occasion.
31:14 Stretch not thine hand whithersoever it looketh, and thrust it not with
him into the dish.
31:15 Judge not thy neighbour by thyself: and be discreet in every point.
31:16 Eat as it becometh a man, those things which are set before thee; and
devour note, lest thou be hated.
31:17 Leave off first for manners' sake; and be not unsatiable, lest thou
offend.
31:18 When thou sittest among many, reach not thine hand out first of all.
31:19 A very little is sufficient for a man well nurtured, and he fetcheth not
his wind short upon his bed.
31:20 Sound sleep cometh of moderate eating: he riseth early, and his wits are
with him: but the pain of watching, and choler, and pangs of the belly,
are with an unsatiable man.
31:21 And if thou hast been forced to eat, arise, go forth, vomit, and thou
shalt have rest.
31:22 My son, hear me, and despise me not, and at the last thou shalt find as
I told thee: in all thy works be quick, so shall there no sickness come
unto thee.
31:23 Whoso is liberal of his meat, men shall speak well of him; and the
report of his good housekeeping will be believed.
31:24 But against him that is a niggard of his meat the whole city shall
murmur; and the testimonies of his niggardness shall not be doubted of.
31:25 Shew not thy valiantness in wine; for wine hath destroyed many.
31:26 The furnace proveth the edge by dipping: so doth wine the hearts of the
proud by drunkeness.
31:27 Wine is as good as life to a man, if it be drunk moderately: what life
is then to a man that is without wine? for it was made to make men glad.
31:28 Wine measurably drunk and in season bringeth gladness of the heart, and
cheerfulness of the mind:
31:29 But wine drunken with excess maketh bitterness of the mind, with
brawling and quarrelling.
31:30 Drunkenness increaseth the rage of a fool till he offend: it diminisheth
strength, and maketh wounds.
31:31 Rebuke not thy neighbour at the wine, and despise him not in his mirth:
give him no despiteful words, and press not upon him with urging him [to
drink.]
