1 Wakefulness that comes of riches consumeth the flesh,
And the anxiety thereof puts away sleep.
2 Wakeful anxiety will crave slumber;
And
*
This appears to be the meaning; but the Greek text here is probably corrupt.
in a sore disease sleep will be broken.
3 A rich man toileth in gathering money together;
And when he rests, he is filled with his good things.
4 A poor man toileth in lack of substance;
And when he rests, he becometh needy.
5 He that loves gold shall not be justified;
And he that follows destruction shall himself have his fill
of it.
6 Many have been given over to ruin for the sake of gold;
And their perdition
†
Or,
comes to pass in their faces
meeteth them face to face.
7 It is a stumblingblock to them that sacrifice to it;
And every fool shall be taken therewith.
8 Blessed is the rich that is found without blemish,
And that goes not after gold.
9 Who is he? and we will call him blessed:
For wonderful things has he done among his people.
10 Who has been tried thereby, and found perfect?
Then let him glory.
Who has had the power to transgress, and has not transgressed?
And to do evil, and has not done it?
11 His goods shall be made sure,
And the congregation shall declare his alms.
12 Sittest you at a great table?
‡
Gr.
open not your throat upon it. be not greedy upon it,
And say not, Many are the things upon it.
13 Remember that an evil eye is a wicked thing:
What has been created more evil than an eye?
Therefore it sheddeth tears from every face.
14 Stretch not your hand whithersoever it looketh,
And thrust not thyself with it into the dish.
15 Consider your neighbor's
liking
by your own;
And be discreet in every point.
16 Eat, as
becometh
a man, those things which are set before you;
And eat not greedily, lest you be hated.
17 Be first to leave off for manners' sake;
And be not insatiable, lest you offend.
18 And if you sittest among many,
Reach not out your hand before them.
19 How sufficient to a well-mannered man is a very little,
And he does not breathe hard upon his bed.
20 Healthy sleep comes of moderate eating;
He riseth early, and his wits are with him:
The pain of wakefulness, and colic,
And griping, are with an insatiable man.
21 And if you have been forced to eat,
Rise up in the midst thereof, and you shall have rest.
22 Hear me, my son, and despise me not,
And at the last you shall find my words
true:
In all your works be quick,
And no disease shall come to you.
23 Him that is liberal of his meat the lips shall bless;
And the testimony of his excellence shall be believed.
24 Him that is a niggard of his meat the city shall murmur at;
And the testimony of his niggardness shall be sure.
25 Show not thyself valiant in wine;
For wine has destroyed many.
26 The furnace proveth the temper
of steel
by dipping;
So does wine
prove
hearts in the quarreling of the proud.
27 Wine is as good as life to men,
If you drink it in its measure:
What life is there to a man that is without wine?
And it has been created to make men glad.
28 Wine drunk in season
and
to satisfy
Is joy of heart, and gladness of soul:
29 Wine drunk largely is bitterness of soul,
With provocation and conflict.
30 Drunkenness increaseth the rage of a fool to his hurt;
It diminisheth strength, and addeth wounds.
31 Rebuke not your neighbor at a banquet of wine,
Neither set him at nothing in his mirth:
Speak not to him a word of reproach,
And press not upon him by asking back
a debt.