Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 34

1Watching for riches consumeth the flesh, and the care thereof driveth away sleep. 2Watching care will not let a man slumber, as a sore disease breaketh sleep. 3The rich hath great labour in gathering riches together; and when he resteth, he is filled with his delicacies. 4The poor laboureth in his poor estate; and when he leaveth off, he is still needy. 5He that loveth gold shall not be justified, and he that followeth corruption shall have enough thereof. 6Gold hath been the ruin of many, and their destruction was present. 7It is a stumblingblock unto them that sacrifice unto it, and every fool shall be taken therewith. 8Blessed is the rich that is found without blemish, and hath not gone after gold. 9Who is he? and we will call him blessed: for wonderful things hath he done among his people. 10Who 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? His goods shall be established, and the congregation shall declare his alms. 11If thou sit at a bountiful table, be not greedy upon it, and say not, There is much meat on it. 12Remember that a wicked eye is an evil thing: and what is created more wicked than an eye? therefore it weepeth upon every occasion. 13Stretch not thine hand whithersoever it looketh, and thrust it not with him into the dish. Judge of thy neighbour by thyself: and be discreet in every point. 14Eat, as it becometh a man, those things which are set before thee; and devour not, lest thou be hated. 15Leave off first for manners' sake; and be not unsatiable, lest thou offend. When thou sittest among many, reach not thine hand out first of all. 16A very little is sufficient for a man well nurtured, and he fetcheth not his wind short upon his bed. 17Sound sleep cometh of moderate eating: he riseth early, and his wits are with him: but the pain of watching, and choler, and pangs of the belly, are with an unsatiable man. 18And if thou hast been forced to eat, arise, go forth, vomit, and thou shalt have rest. 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. 19Whoso is liberal of his meat, men shall speak well of him; and the report of his good housekeeping will be believed. 20But 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. 21Shew not thy valiantness in wine; for wine hath destroyed many. 22The furnace proveth the edge by dipping: so doth wine the hearts of the proud by drunkenness. 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. 23Wine measurably drunk and in season bringeth gladness of the heart, and cheerfulness of the mind: 24but wine drunken with excess maketh bitterness of the mind, with brawling and quarrelling. 25Drunkenness increaseth the rage of a fool till he offend: it diminisheth strength, and maketh wounds. 26Rebuke not thy neighbour 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].