Sirach 31

1Watching for riches consumeth the flesh, and the thought thereof driveth away sleep.

2The thinking beforehand turneth away the understanding, and a grievous sickness maketh the soul sober.

3The rich man hath laboured in gathering riches together, and when he resteth he shall be filled with his goods.

4The poor man hath laboured in his low way of life, and in the end he is still poor.

5He that loveth gold, shall not be justified: and he that followeth after corruption, shall be filled with it.

6Many have been brought to fall for gold, and the beauty thereof hath been their ruin.

7Gold is a stumblingblock to them that sacrifice to it: woe to them that eagerly follow after it, and every fool shall perish by it.

8Blessed is the rich man that is found without blemish: and that hath not gone after gold, nor put his trust in money nor in treasures.

9Who is he, and we will praise him? for he hath done wonderful things in his life.

10Who hath been tried thereby, and made perfect, he shall have glory everlasting. He that could have transgressed, and hath not transgressed: and could do evil things, and hath not done them:

11Therefore are his goods established in the Lord, and all the church of the saints shall declare his alms.

12Art thou set at a great table? be not the first to open thy mouth upon it.

13Say not: There are many things which are upon it.

14Remember that a wicked eye is evil.

15What is created more wicked than an eye? therefore shall it weep over all the face when it shall see.

16Stretch not out thy hand first, lest being disgraced with envy thou be put to confusion.

17Be not hasty in a feast.

18Judge of the disposition of thy neighbour by thyself.

19Use as a frugal man the things that are set before thee: lest if thou eatest much, thou be hated.

20Leave off first, for manners’ sake: and exceed not, lest thou offend.

21And if thou sittest among many, reach not thy hand out first of all: and be not the first to ask for drink.

22How sufficient is a little wine for a man well taught, and in sleeping thou shalt not be uneasy with it, and thou shalt feel no pain.

23Watching, and choler, and gripes, are with an intemperate man:

24Sound and wholesome sleep with a moderate man: he shall sleep till morning, and his soul shall be delighted with him.

25And if thou hast been forced to eat much, arise, go out, and vomit: and it shall refresh thee, and thou shalt not bring sickness upon thy body.

26Hear me, my son, and despise me not: and in the end thou shalt find my words.

27In all thy works be quick, and no infirmity shall come to thee.

28The lips of many shall bless him that is liberal of his bread, and the testimony of his truth is faithful.

29Against him that is niggardly of his bread, the city will murmur, and the testimony of his niggardliness is true.

30Challenge not them that love wine: for wine hath destroyed very many.

31Fire trieth hard iron: so wine drunk to excess shall rebuke the hearts of the proud.

32Wine taken with sobriety is equal lire to men: if thou drink it moderately, thou shalt be sober.

33What is his life, who is diminished with wine?

34What taketh away life? death.

35Wine was created from the beginning to make men joyful, and not to make them drunk.

36Wine drunken with moderation is the joy of the soul and the heart.

37Sober drinking is health to soul and body.

38Wine drunken with excess raiseth quarrels; and wrath, and many ruins.

39Wine drunken with excess is bitterness of the soul.

40The heat of drunkenness is the stumblingblock of the fool, lessening strength and causing wounds.

41Rebuke not thy neighbour in a banquet of wine: and despise him not in hip mirth.

42Speak not to him words of reproach: and press him not in demanding again.

1[Vigilia honestatis tabefaciet carnes, et cogitatus illius auferet somnum.

2Cogitatus præscientiæ avertit sensum, et infirmitas gravis sobriam facit animam.

3Laboravit dives in congregatione substantiæ, et in requie sua replebitur bonis suis.

4Laboravit pauper in diminutione victus, et in fine inops fit.

5Qui aurum diligit non justificabitur, et qui insequitur consumptionem replebitur ex ea.

6Multi dati sunt in auri casus, et facta est in specie ipsius perditio illorum.

7Lignum offensionis est aurum sacrificantium: væ illis qui sectantur illud ! et omnis imprudens deperiet in illo.

8Beatus dives qui inventus est sine macula, et qui post aurum non abiit, nec speravit in pecunia et thesauris.

9Quis est hic? et laudabimus eum: fecit enim mirabilia in vita sua.

10Qui probatus est in illo, et perfectus est, erit illi gloria æterna: qui potuit transgredi, et non est transgressus; facere mala, et non fecit.

11Ideo stabilita sunt bona illius in Domino, et eleemosynas illius enarrabit omnis ecclesia sanctorum.]

12[Supra mensam magnam sedisti? non aperias super illam faucem tuam prior.

13Non dicas sic: Multa sunt, quæ super illam sunt.

14Memento quoniam malus est oculus nequam.

15Nequius oculo quid creatum est? ideo ab omni facie sua lacrimabitur, cum viderit.

16Ne extendas manum tuam prior, et invidia contaminatus erubescas.

17Ne comprimaris in convivio.

18Intellige quæ sunt proximi tui ex teipso.

19Utere quasi homo frugi his quæ tibi apponuntur: ne, cum manducas multum, odio habearis.

20Cessa prior causa disciplinæ: et noli nimius esse, ne forte offendas.

21Et si in medio multorum sedisti, prior illis ne extendas manum tuam, nec prior poscas bibere.

22Quam sufficiens est homini eruditio vinum exiguum ! et in dormiendo non laborabis ab illo, et non senties dolorem.

23Vigilia, cholera et tortura viro infrunito,

24somnus sanitatis in homine parco: dormiet usque mane, et anima illius cum ipso delectabitur.

25Et si coactus fueris in edendo multum, surge e medio, evome, et refrigerabit te, et non adduces corpori tuo infirmitatem.

26Audi me, fili, et ne spernas me, et in novissimo invenies verba mea.

27In omnibus operibus tuis esto velox, et omnis infirmitas non occurret tibi.

28Splendidum in panibus benedicent labia multorum, et testimonium veritatis illius fidele.

29Nequissimo in pane murmurabit civitas, et testimonium nequitiæ illius verum est.

30Diligentes in vino noli provocare: multos enim exterminavit vinum.

31Ignis probat ferrum durum: sic vinum corda superborum arguet in ebrietate potatum.

32Æqua vita hominibus vinum in sobrietate: si bibas illud moderate, eris sobrius.

33Quæ vita est ei qui minuitur vino?

34Quid defraudat vitam? mors.

35Vinum in jucunditatem creatum est, et non in ebrietatem ab initio.

36Exsultatio animæ et cordis vinum moderate potatum.

37Sanitas est animæ et corpori sobrius potus.

38Vinum multum potatum irritationem, et iram, et ruinas multas facit.

39Amaritudo animæ vinum multum potatum.

40Ebrietatis animositas, imprudentis offensio, minorans virtutem, et faciens vulnera.

41In convivio vini non arguas proximum, et non despicias eum in jucunditate illius.

42Verba improperii non dicas illi, et non premas illum repetendo.]

1Watching for wealth consumes the flesh, and thinking about it takes away sleep.

2Anticipation in thought distracts the mind, and a grievous infirmity makes the soul sober.

3The rich man has labored in gathering wealth, and in his rest, he will be filled with his goods.

4The poor man has labored in his lowly way, and in the end, he may still be in need.

5Whoever loves gold will not be justified. And whoever pursues consumption will be consumed by it.

6Many have been caused to fall because of gold, and it became their ruin by its beauty.

7Gold is a stumbling block to those who sacrifice for it. Woe to those who pursue it eagerly, for all the imprudent will perish by it.

8Blessed is the rich man who is found to be without blemish. And blessed is he who has not gone after gold, nor placed his hope in money or treasures.

9Who is he? For we should praise him. For he has done wonderful things in his life.

10He has been tested by it, and has become perfect; he will have eternal glory. He was able to transgress, but he has not transgressed. He was able to do evil, but he has not done evil.

11Therefore, his good things are established in the Lord, and the entire Church of the saints will proclaim his almsgiving.

12Are you seated at a great table? You should not open your mouth over it first.

13You should not speak in this way: “There are many things that are upon it.”

14Remember that a wicked eye is evil.

15What has been made more wicked than the eye? Therefore, when it sees, it will shed tears over the entire face.

16You should not extend your hand first, for then, having been corrupted by envy, you would be ashamed.

17You should not press forward at a feast.

18Understand which things are your neighbor’s and not your own.

19Make use of the things that are set before you, just as a frugal man would. Otherwise, if you eat much, you will be hated.

20Cease eating first, for the sake of discipline. And do not eat to excess, lest you offend.

21And if you sit in the midst of many, you should not extend your hand before they do, and you should not be the first to ask for a drink.

22How sufficient is a little wine for a well-taught man! For in sleep, you will not labor because of it, and you will not feel pain.

23Worry, and disease, and torment are with an intemperate man.

24A healthy sleep is with a temperate man. He will sleep until morning, and his soul will be delighted with him.

25And if you have been coaxed into eating too much, rise up, go outside, and vomit. And it will refresh you, and you will not bring sickness upon your body.

26Listen to me, son, for you should not spurn me. And in the very end, you will discover my words.

27In all your works, be prompt, and then no infirmity will befall you.

28The lips of many will bless the splendid in bread. For the testimony of his truthfulness is faithful.

29The city will murmur against the wicked in bread. For the testimony against his wickedness is true.

30Do not choose to provoke those who love wine. For wine has destroyed many.

31Fire tests the hardness of iron; similarly, drinking wine to inebriation will rebuke the hearts of the arrogant.

32Drinking wine in sobriety gives a contented life to men. If you drink it in moderation, you will be sober.

33What is life to him who is diminished by wine?

34What can cheat him of his life? Death.

35From the beginning, wine was created for cheerfulness, but not for inebriation.

36Wine taken in moderation lifts up the mind and the heart.

37Sober drinking is healthful to mind and body.

38Wine taken in excess stirs up conflict and anger, and brings many to ruin.

39Wine taken in excess is bitter to the soul.

40The effects of inebriation are a stumbling block to the imprudent, diminishing strength and causing wounds.

41You should not argue with your neighbor during a banquet of wine. And you should not spurn him in his cheerfulness.

42You should not speak words of reproach to him. And you should not press him with repeated requests.