Sirach
As found in the Greek Septuagint
GNB
Chapter 31
Sirach 31:1 Worrying about money will make you lose weight and lose sleep.
Sirach 31:2 Worrying about business will keep you from sleeping just as surely as a serious illness does.
Sirach 31:3 Rich people work hard to make a lot of money; then they can sit back and live in luxury.
Sirach 31:4 Poor people work hard and have nothing to show for it, and when they rest, they are still poor.
Sirach 31:5 No one who loves money can be judged innocent; his efforts to get rich have led him into sin.
Sirach 31:6 Many people have been ruined because of money, brought face to face with disaster.
Sirach 31:7 Money is a trap for those who are fascinated by it, a trap that every fool falls into.
Sirach 31:8 A person who gets rich without sinfully chasing after money is fortunate.
Sirach 31:9 Do you know anyone like that? If so, we will congratulate him for performing a miracle that no one else has ever been able to do.
Sirach 31:10 If anyone has ever passed this test, he can well be proud. Has anyone ever known that he could get away with cheating someone and not taken advantage of it?
Sirach 31:11 If so, he deserves his wealth, and everyone will praise him for his generosity.
Sirach 31:12 When you sit down at a fancy banquet, don't let your mouth hang open, and don't say, "Look at all that food!"
Sirach 31:13 It is impolite to have a greedy eye; remember that nothing in creation is greedier than the eye; that is why it sheds tears so often.
Sirach 31:14 Don't reach out for everything you see, and don't elbow people out of the way to get at the food.
Sirach 31:15 Be considerate of the other people at the table and treat them the way you want to be treated.
Sirach 31:16 When you get your food, eat it like a human being. Don't smack and slurp; nobody can stand that.
Sirach 31:17 It's good manners to be the first to stop eating; stuffing yourself is offensive.
Sirach 31:18 If there are many people present, don't try to be the first to be served.
Sirach 31:19 A little bit is plenty for anyone with good manners. Besides, you won't be short of breath when you go to bed.
Sirach 31:20 People who eat too much get stomach aches and cannot sleep. If you don't overeat, you can get a good night's sleep and wake up early the next morning feeling fine.
Sirach 31:21 But if you do get a stomach ache from eating too much, go off and vomit and you will feel better.
Sirach 31:22 My child, if you listen to what I am saying and put it into practice, one of these days you will thank me for it. Be moderate in everything you do, and you will never get sick.
Sirach 31:23 People appreciate a generous host, and he deserves their praise.
Sirach 31:24 But everybody in town will complain about a host who is stingy with food, and their complaints are justified.
Sirach 31:25 Don't try to prove your manhood by how much you can drink. Wine has been the ruin of many.
Sirach 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.
Sirach 31:27 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 cheerful,
Sirach 31:28 If you drink it in moderation and at the right time, it can lift your spirits and make you cheerful,
Sirach 31:29 but if you drink when you are angry and upset, it leads to headaches, embarrassment, and disgrace.
Sirach 31:30 A drunken fool can lose his temper and hurt himself. His drinking makes him weak and an easy target for angry blows.
Sirach 31:31 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.