Sirach 31
King James Version with ApocryphaTranslation
King James Version with Apocrypha
Douay-Rheims Bible, American Edition (1899)
1Watching for riches consumeth the flesh, and the care thereof driveth away sleep.
1Watching for riches consumeth the flesh, and the thought thereof driveth away sleep.
2Watching care will not let a man slumber, as a sore disease breaketh sleep,
2The thinking beforehand turneth away the understanding, and a grievous sickness maketh the soul sober.
3The rich hath great labour in gathering riches together; and when he resteth, he is filled with his delicates.
3The rich man hath laboured in gathering riches together, and when he resteth he shall be filled with his goods.
4The poor laboureth in his poor estate; and when he leaveth off, he is still needy.
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 corruption shall have enough thereof.
5He that loveth gold, shall not be justified: and he that followeth after corruption, shall be filled with it.
6Gold hath been the ruin of many, and their destruction was present.
6Many have been brought to fall for gold, and the beauty thereof hath been their ruin.
7It is a stumblingblock unto them that sacrifice unto it, and every fool shall be taken therewith.
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 that is found without blemish, and hath not gone after gold.
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 call him blessed: for wonderful things hath he done among his people.
9Who is he, and we will praise him? for he hath done wonderful things in his life.
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?
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:
11His goods shall be established, and the congregation shall declare his alms.
11Therefore are his goods established in the Lord, and all the church of the saints shall declare his alms.
12If thou sit at a bountiful table, be not greedy upon it, and say not, There is much meat on it.
12Art thou set at a great table? be not the first to open thy mouth upon it.
13Remember that a wicked eye is an evil thing: and what is created more wicked than an eye? therefore it weepeth upon every occasion.
13Say not: There are many things which are upon it.
14Stretch not thine hand whithersoever it looketh, and thrust it not with him into the dish.
14Remember that a wicked eye is evil.
15Judge not thy neighbour by thyself: and be discreet in every point.
15What is created more wicked than an eye? therefore shall it weep over all the face when it shall see.
16Eat as it becometh a man, those things which are set before thee; and devour not, lest thou be hated.
16Stretch not out thy hand first, lest being disgraced with envy thou be put to confusion.
17Leave off first for manners’ sake; and be not unsatiable, lest thou offend.
17Be not hasty in a feast.
18When thou sittest among many, reach not thine hand out first of all.
18Judge of the disposition of thy neighbour by thyself.
19A very little is sufficient for a man well nurtured, and he fetcheth not his wind short upon his bed.
19Use as a frugal man the things that are set before thee: lest if thou eatest much, thou be hated.
20Sound 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.
20Leave off first, for manners’ sake: and exceed not, lest thou offend.
21And if thou hast been forced to eat, arise, go forth, vomit, and thou shalt have rest.
21And if thou sittest among many, reach not thy hand out first of all: and be not the first to ask for drink.
22My 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.
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.
23Whoso is liberal of his meat, men shall speak well of him; and the report of his good housekeeping will be believed.
23Watching, and choler, and gripes, are with an intemperate man:
24But 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.
24Sound and wholesome sleep with a moderate man: he shall sleep till morning, and his soul shall be delighted with him.
25Shew not thy valiantness in wine; for wine hath destroyed many.
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.
26The furnace proveth the edge by dipping: so doth wine the hearts of the proud by drunkeness.
26Hear me, my son, and despise me not: and in the end thou shalt find my words.
27Wine 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.
27In all thy works be quick, and no infirmity shall come to thee.
28Wine measurably drunk and in season bringeth gladness of the heart, and cheerfulness of the mind:
28The lips of many shall bless him that is liberal of his bread, and the testimony of his truth is faithful.
29But wine drunken with excess maketh bitterness of the mind, with brawling and quarrelling.
29Against him that is niggardly of his bread, the city will murmur, and the testimony of his niggardliness is true.
30Drunkenness increaseth the rage of a fool till he offend: it diminisheth strength, and maketh wounds.
30Challenge not them that love wine: for wine hath destroyed very many.
31Rebuke 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 .
31Fire trieth hard iron: so wine drunk to excess shall rebuke the hearts of the proud.
no verse 32 in this text
32Wine taken with sobriety is equal lire to men: if thou drink it moderately, thou shalt be sober.
no verse 33 in this text
33What is his life, who is diminished with wine?
no verse 34 in this text
34What taketh away life? death.
no verse 35 in this text
35Wine was created from the beginning to make men joyful, and not to make them drunk.
no verse 36 in this text
36Wine drunken with moderation is the joy of the soul and the heart.
no verse 37 in this text
37Sober drinking is health to soul and body.
no verse 38 in this text
38Wine drunken with excess raiseth quarrels; and wrath, and many ruins.
no verse 39 in this text
39Wine drunken with excess is bitterness of the soul.
no verse 40 in this text
40The heat of drunkenness is the stumblingblock of the fool, lessening strength and causing wounds.
no verse 41 in this text
41Rebuke not thy neighbour in a banquet of wine: and despise him not in hip mirth.
no verse 42 in this text
42Speak not to him words of reproach: and press him not in demanding again.
Tip: use the ← and → keys to turn chapters.