Sirach 31

31Watchful care over wealthwasteth the flesh,

And anxiety about itdissipateth slumber.

Anxiety about sustenancebreaketh off ⁽?⁽ slumber,

Even as severe sickness dissipateth sleep.

The rich man labourethto gather riches,

And when he resteth, it is to partake of delights.

The poor man toilethfor the needs of his house,

And if he rest he becometh needy.

He that loveth gold shall not go unpunished,

And he that pursuethhireerreth thereby.

Many there are that have bound themselves to gold

And have put their trust in corals.

It is a stumbling-blockfor the foolish,

And whoso is simple is snared thereby.

Happy is the rich man that is found blameless,

And that hath not gone astray following mammon!

Who is he? that we may felicitate him—

For he hath done wondrously among his people.

Who hath been tested by it and remained unharmed,

So that it hath redounded to his glory?

Who could fall away, and did not fall away;

And ⁽could⁽ inflict harm, and did not?

Therefore shall his good fortune be steadfast,

And the congregation shall declare his praise.

If thou sittest at a great man’s table,

Be not greedy upon it;

Say not: There is abundance upon it—

Remember that an evil eye is an evil thing,

God hath created nothing more evil than the eye;

Therefore over everything must it weep.

Be considerate to thy companion as thyself,

And be mindful of all thou detestest.

Stretch not out the hand wherever he may look,

And collide not with himin the dish.

Eat like a man what is put before thee,

And be not ravenous, lest thou become disliked.

Leave off firstfor manners’ sake,

And devour not voraciouslylest thou become offensive.

And, moreover, when thou art seated in a large company

Stretch not the hand out before a neighbour.

Surely a little is sufficient for a man of understanding,

And he need not choke upon his bed.

Pain and sleeplessness, and distress,

And inward disorderare with a foolish man.

Healthy sleephath a purged belly,

And when he riseth in the morning his wits are with him.

And even if thou hast been constrained with dainties,

Arise and vomit, and thou shalt have ease.

Listen, my son, and despise me not,

And in the end thou shalt comprehend my words.

In all thy doings be modest,

And no mishap shall touch thee.

Him that is generous over meatthe lip blesseth;

The testimony of his generosity is lasting:

Him who is niggardly over meat the city murmureth at;

The testimony of his niggardliness is lasting.

In wine also show not thyself valiant,

For new winehath been the ruin of many.

Like a furnace which proveth the work of the smith,

So is wine in the quarrelling of the scornful.

Life-giving wateris wine to a man

If he drink it in moderation.

What life hath a man that lacketh new wine,

Seeing it was createdfor rejoicing from the beginning.

Joy of heart and gladness and delight

Is wine drunk in season and ⁽for⁽ satisfaction.

Headache, derision, and dishonour

Is wine drunk in strife and vexation.

Much wine is for the fool a snare—

It diminisheth strength and supplieth wounds.

At a banquet of wine ^〈rebuke not^〈 a friend,

And ^〈grieve him not in his joy^〈:

^〈Speak to him^〈 no reproachful word,

^〈And quarrel not with him^〈in the presence of ⁽other⁽ people.