Chapter 31

¹Watching for riches consumeth the flesh, and the thought thereof driveth away sleep. ²The thinking beforehand turneth away the understanding, and a grievous sickness maketh the soul sober. ³The rich man hath laboured in gathering riches together, and when he resteth he shall be filled with his goods. ⁴The poor man hath laboured in his low way of life, and in the end he is still poor. ⁵He that loveth gold, shall not be justified: and he that followeth after corruption, shall be filled with it. ⁶Many have been brought to fall for gold, and the beauty thereof hath been their ruin. ⁷Gold is a stumblingblock to them that sacrifice to it: woe to them that eagerly follow after it, and every fool shall perish by it. ⁸Blessed 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. ⁹Who is he, and we will praise him? for he hath done wonderful things in his life. ¹⁰Who 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: ¹¹Therefore are his goods established in the Lord, and all the church of the saints shall declare his alms. ¹²Art thou set at a great table? be not the first to open thy mouth upon it. ¹³Say not: There are many things which are upon it. ¹⁴Remember that a wicked eye is evil. ¹⁵What is created more wicked than an eye? therefore shall it weep over all the face when it shall see. ¹⁶Stretch not out thy hand first, lest being disgraced with envy thou be put to confusion. ¹⁷Be not hasty in a feast. ¹⁸Judge of the disposition of thy neighbour by thyself. ¹⁹Use as a frugal man the things that are set before thee: lest if thou eatest much, thou be hated. ²⁰Leave off first, for manners' sake: and exceed not, lest thou offend. ²¹21And if thou sittest among many, reach not thy hand out first of all: and be not the first to ask for drink. ²²How 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. ²³Watching, and choler, and gripes, are with an intemperate man: ²⁴Sound and wholesome sleep with a moderate man: he shall sleep till morning, and his soul shall be delighted with him. ²⁵And 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. ²⁶Hear me, my son, and despise me not: and in the end thou shalt find my words. ²⁷In all thy works be quick, and no infirmity shall come to thee. ²⁸The lips of many shall bless him that is liberal of his bread, and the testimony of his truth is faithful. ²⁹Against him that is niggardly of his bread, the city will murmur, and the testimony of his niggardliness is true. ³⁰Challenge not them that love wine: for wine hath destroyed very many. ³¹Fire trieth hard iron: so wine drunk to excess shall rebuke the hearts of the proud. ³²Wine taken with sobriety is equal lire to men: if thou drink it moderately, thou shalt be sober. ³³What is his life, who is diminished with wine? ³⁴What taketh away life? death. ³⁵Wine was created from the beginning to make men joyful, and not to make them drunk. ³⁶Wine drunken with moderation is the joy of the soul and the heart. ³⁷Sober drinking is health to soul and body. ³⁸Wine drunken with excess raiseth quarrels; and wrath, and many ruins. ³⁹Wine drunken with excess is bitterness of the soul. ⁴⁰The heat of drunkenness is the stumblingblock of the fool, lessening strength and causing wounds. ⁴¹Rebuke not thy neighbour in a banquet of wine: and despise him not in hip mirth. ⁴²Speak not to him words of reproach: and press him not in demanding again.