Wisdom of Sirach 31
1Watching for riches consumes the flesh, and the care thereof drives away sleep.
2Watching care will not let a man slumber, as a sore disease breaks sleep,
3The rich has great labor in gathering riches together; and when he rests, he is filled with his delicates.
4The poor labores in his poor estate; and when he leaves off, he is still needy.
5He that loves gold shall not be justified, and he that follows corruption shall have enough thereof.
6Gold has been the ruin of many, and their destruction was present.
7It is a stumbling block to them that sacrifice to it, and every fool shall be taken therewith.
8Blessed is the rich that is found without blemish, and has not gone after gold.
9Who is he? and we will call him blessed: for wonderful things has he done among his people.
10Who has been tried thereby, and found perfect? then let him glory. Who might offend, and has not offended? or done evil, and has not done it?
11His goods shall be established, and the congregation shall declare his alms.
12If you sit at a bountiful table, be not greedy upon it, and say not, There is much meat on it.
13Remember that a wicked eye is an evil thing: and what is created more wicked than an eye? therefore it weeps upon every occasion.
14Stretch not your hand wherever it looks, and thrust it not with him into the dish.
15Judge not your neighbor by yourself: and be discreet in every point.
16Eat as it becomes a man, those things which are set before you; and devour note, lest you be hated.
17Leave off first for manners' sake; and be not unsatiable, lest you offend.
18When you sit among many, reach not your hand out first of all.
19A very little is sufficient for a man well nurtured, and he fetches not his wind short upon his bed.
20Sound sleep comes of moderate eating: he rises early, and his wits are with him: but the pain of watching, and choler, and pangs of the belly, are with an unsatiable man.
21And if you have been forced to eat, arise, go forth, vomit, and you shall have rest.
22My son, hear me, and despise me not, and at the last you shall find as I told you: in all your works be quick, so shall there no sickness come to you.
23Whoso is liberal of his meat, men shall speak well of him; and the report of his good housekeeping will be believed.
24But 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.
25Show not your valiantness in wine; for wine has destroyed many.
26The furnace proves the edge by dipping: so does wine the hearts of the proud by drunkenness.
27Wine 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.
28Wine measurably drunk and in season brings gladness of the heart, and cheerfulness of the mind:
29But wine drunken with excess makes bitterness of the mind, with brawling and quarrelling.
30Drunkenness increases the rage of a fool till he offend: it diminishes strength, and makes wounds.
31Rebuke not your neighbor 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.
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