Ecclesiasticus 31:1 Watching for riches, consumeth the flesh, and the care therof driveth away sleep.
Ecclesiasticus 31:2 Watching care will not let a man slumber, as a sore disease breaketh sleep.
Ecclesiasticus 31:3 The rich hath great labor in gathering riches together, and when he resteth, he is filled with his delicates.
Ecclesiasticus 31:4 The poor laboreth in his poor estate, and when he leaveth off, he is still needy.
Ecclesiasticus 31:5 He that loveth gold shall not be justified, and he that followeth corruption, shall have enough thereof.
Ecclesiasticus 31:6 Gold hath been the ruin of many, and their destruction was present.
Ecclesiasticus 31:7 It is a stumbling block unto them that sacrifice unto it, and every fool shall be taken therewith.
Ecclesiasticus 31:8 Blessed is the rich that is found without blemish, and hath not gone after gold:
Ecclesiasticus 31:9 Who is he? and we will call him blessed: for wonderful things hath he done among his people.
Ecclesiasticus 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?
Ecclesiasticus 31:11 His goods shall be established, and the congregation shall declare his alms.
Ecclesiasticus 31:12 If thou sit at a bountiful table, be not greedy upon it, and say not, There is much meat on it.
Ecclesiasticus 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.
Ecclesiasticus 31:14 Stretch not thine hand whithersoever it looketh, and thrust it not with him into the dish.
Ecclesiasticus 31:15 Judge of thy neighbor by thyself: and be discreet in every point.
Ecclesiasticus 31:16 Eat as it becometh a man those things which are set before thee: and devour not, lest thou be hated.
Ecclesiasticus 31:17 Leave off first for manners sake, and be not unsatiable, lest thou offend.
Ecclesiasticus 31:18 When thou sittest among many, reach not thine hand out first of all.
Ecclesiasticus 31:19 A very litle is sufficient for a man well nurtured, and he fetcheth not his wind short upon his bed.
Ecclesiasticus 31:20 Sound sleep cometh of moderate eating: he riseth early, and his wits are with him, but the pain of watching and choller, and pangs of the belly are with an unsatiable man.
Ecclesiasticus 31:21 And if thou hast been forced to eat, arise, go forth, vomit, and thou shalt have rest.
Ecclesiasticus 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.
Ecclesiasticus 31:23 Who so is liberal of his meat, men shall speak well of him, and the report of his good housekeeping will be believed.
Ecclesiasticus 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. [niggard=of general bad character; stingy]
Ecclesiasticus 31:25 Shew not thy valiantness in wine, for wine hath destroyed many.
Ecclesiasticus 31:26 The furnace proveth the edge by dipping: so doth wine the hearts of the proud by drunkenness.
Ecclesiasticus 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.
Ecclesiasticus 31:28 Wine measurably drunk, and in season, bringeth gladness of the heart and cheerfulness of the mind.
Ecclesiasticus 31:29 But wine drunken with excess, maketh bitterness of the mind, with brawling and quarreling.
Ecclesiasticus 31:30 Drunkenness increaseth the rage of a fool till he offend, it diminisheth strength, and maketh wounds.
Ecclesiasticus 31:31 Rebuke not thy neighbor 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.)