Sir 31:1 Watching for riches consumeth the
flesh, and the care thereof driveth away sleep.
Sir 31:2 Watching care will not let a man slumber, as a sore disease
breaketh sleep,
Sir 31:3 The rich hath great labour in gathering riches together; and when
he resteth, he is filled with his delicates.
Sir 31:4 The poor laboureth in his poor estate; and when he leaveth off, he
is still needy.
Sir 31:5 He that loveth gold shall not be justified, and he that followeth
corruption shall have enough thereof.
Sir 31:6 Gold hath been the ruin of many, and their destruction was present.
Sir 31:7 It is a stumblingblock unto them that sacrifice unto it, and every
fool shall be taken therewith.
Sir 31:8 Blessed is the rich that is found without blemish, and hath not
gone after gold.
Sir 31:9 Who is he? and we will call him blessed: for wonderful things hath
he done among his people.
Sir 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?
Sir 31:11 His goods shall be established, and the congregation shall declare
his alms.
Sir 31:12 If thou sit at a bountiful table, be not greedy upon it, and say
not, There is much meat on it.
Sir 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.
Sir 31:14 Stretch not thine hand whithersoever it looketh, and thrust it not
with him into the dish.
Sir 31:15 Judge not thy neighbour by thyself: and be discreet in every
point.
Sir 31:16 Eat as it becometh a man, those things which are set before thee;
and devour note, lest thou be hated.
Sir 31:17 Leave off first for manners' sake; and be not unsatiable, lest
thou offend.
Sir 31:18 When thou sittest among many, reach not thine hand out first of
all.
Sir 31:19 A very little is sufficient for a man well nurtured, and he
fetcheth not his wind short upon his bed.
Sir 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.
Sir 31:21 And if thou hast been forced to eat, arise, go forth, vomit, and
thou shalt have rest.
Sir 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.
Sir 31:23 Whoso is liberal of his meat, men shall speak well of him; and the
report of his good housekeeping will be believed.
Sir 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.
Sir 31:25 Shew not thy valiantness in wine; for wine hath destroyed many.
Sir 31:26 The furnace proveth the edge by dipping: so doth wine the hearts
of the proud by drunkeness.
Sir 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.
Sir 31:28 Wine measurably drunk and in season bringeth gladness of the
heart, and cheerfulness of the mind:
Sir 31:29 But wine drunken with excess maketh bitterness of the mind, with
brawling and quarrelling.
Sir 31:30 Drunkenness increaseth the rage of a fool till he offend: it
diminisheth strength, and maketh wounds.
Sir 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.]