Ben Sira 31:26-31

26 An arrogant person's character shows through when he is in a drunken argument, in the same way that iron is tested when it is heated red-hot and then dipped in water.
27 Wine can put new life into you if you drink it in moderation. What would life be like without it? Wine was created to make us happy.
28 If you drink it in moderation and at the right time, it can lift your spirits and make you cheerful,
29 but if you drink when you are angry and upset, it leads to headaches, embarrassment, and disgrace.
30 A drunken fool can lose his temper and hurt himself. His drinking makes him weak and an easy target for angry blows.
31 Never rebuke a person when you have both been drinking. Don't hurt his feelings while he is having a good time. It's not the time to criticize anyone, or to ask him to pay back a debt.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. [Hebrew] when you are . . . disgrace; [Greek] too much, it leads to bitterness, offense, and stumbling.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.