Ben Sira 31:22-31

22 Listen to me, my child, and do not disregard me, and in the end you will appreciate my words. In everything you do be moderate, and no sickness will overtake you.
23 People bless the one who is liberal with food, and their testimony to his generosity is trustworthy.
24 The city complains of the one who is stingy with food, and their testimony to his stinginess is accurate.
25 Do not try to prove your strength by wine-drinking, for wine has destroyed many.
26 As the furnace tests the work of the smith, so wine tests hearts when the insolent quarrel.
27 Wine is very life to human beings if taken in moderation. What is life to one who is without wine? It has been created to make people happy.
28 Wine drunk at the proper time and in moderation is rejoicing of heart and gladness of soul.
29 Wine drunk to excess leads to bitterness of spirit, to quarrels and stumbling.
30 Drunkenness increases the anger of a fool to his own hurt, reducing his strength and adding wounds.
31 Do not reprove your neighbor at a banquet of wine, and do not despise him in his merrymaking; speak no word of reproach to him, and do not distress him by making demands of him.

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Heb Syr: Gk [industrious]
  • [b]. Heb: Gk [tests the hardening of steel by dipping]
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.