BenSira:31

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* Watching for riches consumeth the flesh , and the care thereof driveth away sleep . * Watching care will not let a man slumber , as a sore disease breaketh sleep , * The rich hath great labour in gathering riches together ; and when he resteth , he is filled with his delicates . * The poor laboureth in his poor estate ; and when he leaveth off , he is still needy . * He that loveth gold shall not be justified , and he that followeth corruption shall have enough thereof . * Gold hath been the ruin of many , and their destruction was present . * It is a stumblingblock unto them that sacrifice unto it , and every fool shall be taken therewith . * Blessed is the rich that is found without blemish , and hath not gone after gold . * Who is he ? and we will call him blessed : for wonderful things hath he done among his people . * 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 ? * His goods shall be established , and the congregation shall declare his alms . * If thou sit at a bountiful table , be not greedy upon it , and say not , There is much meat on it . * Remember that a wicked eye is an evil thing : and what is created more wicked than an eye ? therefore it weepeth upon every occasion . * Stretch not thine hand whithersoever it looketh , and thrust it not with him into the dish . * Judge not thy neighbour by thyself : and be discreet in every point . * Eat as it becometh a man , those things which are set before thee ; and devour note , lest thou be hated . * Leave 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 . * A very little is sufficient for a man well nurtured , and he fetcheth not his wind short upon his bed . * Sound 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 . * And 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 . * Whoso is liberal of his meat , men shall speak well of him ; and the report of his good housekeeping will be believed . * 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 . * Shew not thy valiantness in wine ; for wine hath destroyed many . * The furnace proveth the edge by dipping : so doth wine the hearts of the proud by drunkeness . * 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 . * Wine measurably drunk and in season bringeth gladness of the heart , and cheerfulness of the mind : * But wine drunken with excess maketh bitterness of the mind , with brawling and quarrelling . * Drunkenness increaseth the rage of a fool till he offend : it diminisheth strength , and maketh wounds . * Rebuke 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 .]

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