1
Watching for riches consumeth the flesh, and the care thereof driveth away sleep.
2
Wakeful care will not let a man slumber, as a sore disease breaketh sleep.
3
The rich hath great labor in gathering riches together; and when he resteth, he is filled with his delicacies.
4
The poor laboreth in his poor estate; and when he leaveth off, he is still needy.
5
He that loveth gold shall not be justified, and he that followeth corruption shall have enough thereof.
6
Gold hath been the ruin of many, and their destruction was present.
7
It is a stumbling block unto them that sacrifice unto it, and every fool shall be taken therewith.
8
Blessed is the rich that is found without blemish, and hath not gone after gold.
9
Who is he? And we will call him blessed, for wonderful things hath he done among his people.
10
Who 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?
11
His goods shall be established, and the congregation shall declare his almsgiving.
12
If thou sit at a bountiful table, be not greedy upon it, and say not, "There is much meat on it."
13
Remember that a wicked eye is an evil thing; and what is created more wicked than an eye? Therefore it weepeth upon every occasion.
14
Stretch not thine hand whithersoever it looketh, and thrust it not with him into the dish.
15
Judge of thy neighbor by thyself, and be discreet in every point.
16
Eat, as it becometh a man, those things which are set before thee; and devour not, lest thou be hated.
17
Leave off first for manners' sake; and be not insatiable, lest thou offend.
18
When thou sittest among many, reach not thine hand out first of all.
19
A very little is sufficient for a man well-nurtured, and he draweth not his wind short upon his bed.
20
Sound sleep cometh of moderate eating: he riseth early, and his wits are with him; but the pain of wakefulness and ill temper and pangs of the belly, are with an insatiable man.
21
And if thou hast been forced to eat, arise, go forth, vomit, and thou shalt have rest.
22
My 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.
23
Whoso is liberal with his meat, men shall speak well of him; and the report of his good housekeeping will be believed.
24
But against him that is a niggard with his meat the whole city shall murmur, and the testimonies of his niggardliness shall not be doubted.
25
Show not thy valiantness in wine, for wine hath destroyed many.
26
The furnace testeth the edge by dipping; so doth wine the hearts of the proud by drunkenness.
27
Wine 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.
28
Wine measurably drunk and in season bringeth gladness of the heart and cheerfulness of the mind,
29
but wine drunken with excess maketh bitterness of the mind with brawling and quarreling.
30
Drunkenness increaseth the rage of a fool till he offend; it diminisheth strength and maketh wounds.
31
Rebuke not thy neighbor 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.