31HB 1 rWatchful care over wealthr swasteth the fleshs,

tAnd anxiety about itt udissipateth slumberu.

2 vAnxiety about sustenancev wbreaketh off (?)w slumber,

xEven as severe sickness dissipateth sleepx.

3 The rich man ylabourethy zto gatherz riches,

And when he resteth, it is to apartake of delightsa.

4 bThe poor man ctoilethc dfor the needs of his housed,

And if he rest ehe becometh needye b.

(e) 31:(34:)5–11. The perils of mammon-worship

(= 3 + 2 + 2 + 1 distichs).

HB 5 He that flovethf gold gshall not go unpunishedg,

And he that fpursuethf hhireh ierreth therebyi.

6 Many there are that have jbound themselves to goldj

kAnd have put their trust in coralsk.

7 lIt is a stumbling-blockl mfor the foolishm,

nAnd whoso is simple is snared therebyn.

8 Happy is othe rich mano that is found blameless,

And that hath not pgone astray followingp mammon!

9 Who is he? that we may felicitate him—

For he hath done wondrously among his people.

10 Who qhath been testedq by it rand remained unharmedr,

sSo that it hath redounded to his glory?s

H Who could tfall awayt, and did not fall away;

uAnd (could) inflictu harm, vand did notv?

11 wThereforew shall his good fortune xbe steadfastx,

And the congregation shall declare yhis praisey.

(f) 31:(34:)12–24. a Instruction concerning bread and wine togethera

(= 3 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 3 + 1 + 2 + 2 distichs).

12 bIf thou sittest cat a great man’s tablec,

dBe not greedy upon itd;

eSay not: fThere is abundance upon itf—

13  gRemember that an evil eye is an evil thingg,

HB hGod hath createdh nothing more evil than the eye;

iTherefore over everything must it weepi.

15 j kBe consideratek to lthy companion as thyselfl,

And be mindful of all mthou detestestm.

14 Stretch not out the hand nwherever he may lookn,

oAnd collide not with himo pin the dishp j.

16 qEat like a man rwhat is put before theer,

sAnd be not ravenouss, lest thou become dislikedq.

17 tLeave off firstt ufor manners’ sakeu,

vAnd devour not voraciouslyv wlest thou become offensivew.

HB 18 And, moreover, when thou art seated xin a large companyx

Stretch not the hand out ybefore a neighboury.

19 Surely a little is sufficient for za man of understandingz,

And he need not achokea upon his bed.

20(c) bPain and sleeplessness, and distressb,

20(d)  cAnd inward disorderc dare with a foolish mand.

20(a)eHealthy sleepe fhath a purged bellyf,

20(b)  And when he riseth in the morning ghis wits are with himg.

HB 21 hAnd even if thou hast been constrained with dainties,

iArise and vomiti, and thou shalt have ease.

22 jListen, my son, and despise me not,

kAnd in the endk thou shalt comprehend my wordsj.

In all thy doings be lmodestl,

And no mmishapm shall touch theeh.

23 nHim that is generous over meatn othe lipo blesseth;

pThe testimony of his generosityp is lasting:

24 Him who is niggardly over meat qthe city murmureth atq;

rThe testimony of his niggardlinessr is lasting.

(g) 31:(34:)25–31. The use and abuse of wine

(= 2 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 distichs).

25 In wine salsos show not thyself valiant,

For tnew winet uhath been the ruinu of many.

HB 26 vLike a furnacev which proveth wthe work of the smithw,

xSo is wine in the quarrelling of the scornfulx.

27 yLife-giving watery zis wine to a manz

If he drink it ain moderationa.

b cWhat lifec hath a man that lacketh new wine,

dSeeing it was createdd efor rejoicing from the beginninge b.

28 Joy of heart fand gladness and delightf

Is wine drunk gin season and (for) satisfactiong.

29 hHeadache, derision, and dishonourh

Is wine drunk iin strife and vexationi.

30 jMuch wine is for the fool a snarej—

It diminisheth strength and supplieth wounds.

31 At a banquet of wine k〈rebuke not〉k a friend,

lAnd 〈grieve him not in his joy〉l:

HB m〈Speak to him〉m no reproachful word,

n〈And quarrel not with him〉n oin the presence of (other) peopleo.

(h) 32:(35:)1–13. On behaviour at a banquet

(= 3 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 1 distichs).