The Book of Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus)
Chapter 31
1 – Watching for riches consumeth the flesh, and the thought thereof driveth away sleep.
2 – The thinking beforehand turneth away the understanding, and a grievous sickness maketh the soul sober.
3 – The rich man hath laboured in gathering riches together, and when he resteth he shall be filled with his goods.
4 – The poor man hath laboured in his low way of life, and in the end he is still poor.
5 – He that loveth gold, shall not be justified: and he that followeth after corruption, shall be filled with it.
6 – Many have been brought to fall for gold, and the beauty thereof hath been their ruin.
7 – Gold is a stumblingblock to them that sacrifice to it: woe to them that eagerly follow after it, and every fool shall perish by it.
8 – Blessed 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.
9 – Who is he, and we will praise him? for he hath done wonderful things in his life.
10 – Who 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:
11 – Therefore are his goods established in the Lord, and all the church of the saints shall declare his alms.
12 – Art thou set at a great table? be not the first to open thy mouth upon it.
13 – Say not: There are many things which are upon it.
14 – Remember that a wicked eye is evil.
15 – What is created more wicked than an eye? therefore shall it weep over all the face when it shall see.
16 – Stretch not out thy hand first, lest being disgraced with envy thou be put to confusion.
17 – Be not hasty in a feast.
18 – Judge of the disposition of thy neighbour by thyself.
19 – Use as a frugal man the things that are set before thee: lest if thou eatest much, thou be hated.
20 – Leave off first, for manners’ sake: and exceed not, lest thou offend.
21 – 21And if thou sittest among many, reach not thy hand out first of all: and be not the first to ask for drink.
22 – How 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.
23 – Watching, and choler, and gripes, are with an intemperate man:
24 – Sound and wholesome sleep with a moderate man: he shall sleep till morning, and his soul shall be delighted with him.
25 – And 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.
26 – Hear me, my son, and despise me not: and in the end thou shalt find my words.
27 – In all thy works be quick, and no infirmity shall come to thee.
28 – The lips of many shall bless him that is liberal of his bread, and the testimony of his truth is faithful.
29 – Against him that is niggardly of his bread, the city will murmur, and the testimony of his niggardliness is true.
30 – Challenge not them that love wine: for wine hath destroyed very many.
31 – Fire trieth hard iron: so wine drunk to excess shall rebuke the hearts of the proud.
32 – Wine taken with sobriety is equal lire to men: if thou drink it moderately, thou shalt be sober.
33 – What is his life, who is diminished with wine?
34 – What taketh away life? death.
35 – Wine was created from the beginning to make men joyful, and not to make them drunk.
36 – Wine drunken with moderation is the joy of the soul and the heart.
37 – Sober drinking is health to soul and body.
38 – Wine drunken with excess raiseth quarrels; and wrath, and many ruins.
39 – Wine drunken with excess is bitterness of the soul.
40 – The heat of drunkenness is the stumblingblock of the fool, lessening strength and causing wounds.
41 – Rebuke not thy neighbour in a banquet of wine: and despise him not in hip mirth.
42 – Speak not to him words of reproach: and press him not in demanding again.
The Catholic Bible Online. Scriptures are from The Douay Rheims Catholic Bible 1582-1610 a.d. Version In the Public Domain. The Douay Rheims Bible is a translation of the Bible from the Latin Vulgate into English undertaken by members of the English College, Douai in the service of the Catholic Church.