The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus 31

1Wakefulness that comes of riches consumes the flesh, 2Wakeful anxiety will crave slumber; in a sore disease sleep will be broken. This appears to be the meaning; but the Greek text here is probably corrupt. 3A rich man toileth in gathering money together; 4A poor man toileth in lack of substance; 5He that loves gold shall not be justified; of it. 6Many have been given over to ruin for the sake of gold; meets them face to face. Or, comes to pass in their faces 7It is a stumbling block to those who sacrifice to it; 8Blessed is the rich that is found without blemish, 9Who is he? and we will call him blessed: 10Who has been tried thereby, and found perfect? 11His goods shall be made sure, 12Sittest you at a great table? be not greedy upon it, Gr. open not your throat upon it. 13Remember that an evil eye is a wicked thing: 14Stretch not your hand wherever it looks, 15Consider your neighbor’s liking by your own; 16Eat, as becomes a man, those things which are set before you; 17Be first to leave off for manners’ sake; 18And if you sit among many, 19How sufficient to a well-mannered man is a very little, 20Healthy sleep comes of moderate eating; 21And if you have been forced to eat, 22Hear me, my son, and despise me not, true: 23Him that is liberal of his meat the lips shall bless; 24Him that is a niggard of his meat the city shall murmur at; 25Show not yourself valiant in wine; 26The furnace proves the temper of steel by dipping; prove hearts in the quarreling of the proud. 27Wine is as good as life to men, 28Wine drunk in season and to satisfy 29Wine drunk largely is bitterness of soul, 30Drunkenness increases the rage of a fool to his hurt; 31Rebuke not your neighbor at a banquet of wine, a debt.