Sirach 31

1Watching for riches consumeth the flesh, and the thought thereof driveth away sleep.

2The thinking beforehand turneth away the understanding, and a grievous sickness maketh the soul sober.

3The rich man hath laboured in gathering riches together, and when he resteth he shall be filled with his goods.

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 after corruption, shall be filled with it.

6Many have been brought to fall for gold, and the beauty thereof hath been their ruin.

7Gold is a stumbling block 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 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 praise him? for he hath done wonderful things in his life.

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:

11Therefore are his goods established in the Lord, and all the church of the saints shall declare his alms.

12Art thou set at a great table? be not the first to open thy mouth upon it.

13Say not: There are many things which are upon it.

14Remember that a wicked eye is evil.

15What is created more wicked than an eye? therefore shall it weep over all the face when it shall see.

16Stretch not out thy hand first, lest being disgraced with envy thou be put to confusion.

17Be not hasty in a feast.

18Judge of the disposition of thy neighbour by thyself.

19Use as a frugal man the things that are set before thee: lest if thou eatest much, thou be hated.

20Leave off first, for manners' sake: and exceed not, lest thou offend.

21And if thou sittest among many, reach not thy hand out first of all, and be not the first to ask for drink.

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.

23Watching, and choler, and gripes, are with an intemperate man:

24Sound and wholesome sleep with a moderate man: he shall sleep till morning, and his soul shall be delighted with him.

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.

26Hear me, my son, and despise me not: and in the end thou shalt find my words.

27In all thy works be quick, and no infirmity shall come to thee.

28The lips of many shall bless him that is liberal of his bread, and the testimony of his truth is faithful.

29Against him that is niggardly of his bread, the city will murmur, and the testimony of his niggardliness is true.

30Challenge not them that love wine: for wine hath destroyed very many.

31Fire trieth hard iron: so wine drunk to excess shall rebuke the hearts of the proud.

32Wine taken with sobriety is equal life to men: if thou drink it moderately, thou shalt be sober.

33What is his life, who is diminished with wine?

34What taketh away life? death.

35Wine was created from the beginning to make men joyful, and not to make them drunk.

36Wine drunken with moderation is the joy of the soul and the heart.

37Sober drinking is health to soul and body.

38Wine drunken with excess raiseth quarrels, and wrath, and many ruins.

39Wine drunken with excess is bitterness of the soul.

40The heat of drunkenness is the stumbling block of the fool, lessening strength and causing wounds.

41Rebuke not thy neighbour in a banquet of wine: and despise him not in his mirth.

42Speak not to him words of reproach: and press him not in demanding again.

1Vigilia honestatis tabefaciet carnes, et cogitatus illius auferet somnum.

2Cogitatus præscientiæ avertit sensum, et infirmitas gravis sobriam facit animam.

3Laboravit dives in congregatione substantiæ, et in requie sua replebitur bonis suis.

4Laboravit pauper in diminutione victus, et in fine inops fit.

5Qui aurum diligit non justificabitur, et qui insequitur consumptionem replebitur ex ea.

6Multi dati sunt in auri casus, et facta est in specie ipsius perditio illorum.

7Lignum offensionis est aurum sacrificantium : væ illis qui sectantur illud! et omnis imprudens deperiet in illo.

8Beatus dives qui inventus est sine macula, et qui post aurum non abiit, nec speravit in pecunia et thesauris.

9Quis est hic? et laudabimus eum : fecit enim mirabilia in vita sua.

10Qui probatus est in illo, et perfectus est, erit illi gloria æterna : qui potuit transgredi, et non est transgressus; facere mala, et non fecit.

11Ideo stabilita sunt bona illius in Domino, et eleemosynas illius enarrabit omnis ecclesia sanctorum.

12Supra mensam magnam sedisti? non aperias super illam faucem tuam prior.

13Non dicas sic : Multa sunt, quæ super illam sunt.

14Memento quoniam malus est oculus nequam.

15Nequius oculo quid creatum est? ideo ab omni facie sua lacrimabitur, cum viderit.

16Ne extendas manum tuam prior, et invidia contaminatus erubescas.

17Ne comprimaris in convivio.

18Intellige quæ sunt proximi tui ex teipso.

19Utere quasi homo frugi his quæ tibi apponuntur : ne, cum manducas multum, odio habearis.

20Cessa prior causa disciplinæ : et noli nimius esse, ne forte offendas.

21Et si in medio multorum sedisti, prior illis ne extendas manum tuam, nec prior poscas bibere.

22Quam sufficiens est homini eruditio vinum exiguum! et in dormiendo non laborabis ab illo, et non senties dolorem.

23Vigilia, cholera et tortura viro infrunito,

24somnus sanitatis in homine parco : dormiet usque mane, et anima illius cum ipso delectabitur.

25Et si coactus fueris in edendo multum, surge e medio, evome, et refrigerabit te, et non adduces corpori tuo infirmitatem.

26Audi me, fili, et ne spernas me, et in novissimo invenies verba mea.

27In omnibus operibus tuis esto velox, et omnis infirmitas non occurret tibi.

28Splendidum in panibus benedicent labia multorum, et testimonium veritatis illius fidele.

29Nequissimo in pane murmurabit civitas, et testimonium nequitiæ illius verum est.

30Diligentes in vino noli provocare : multos enim exterminavit vinum.

31Ignis probat ferrum durum : sic vinum corda superborum arguet in ebrietate potatum.

32Æqua vita hominibus vinum in sobrietate : si bibas illud moderate, eris sobrius.

33Quæ vita est ei qui minuitur vino?

34Quid defraudat vitam? mors.

35Vinum in jucunditatem creatum est, et non in ebrietatem ab initio.

36Exsultatio animæ et cordis vinum moderate potatum.

37Sanitas est animæ et corpori sobrius potus.

38Vinum multum potatum irritationem, et iram, et ruinas multas facit.

39Amaritudo animæ vinum multum potatum.

40Ebrietatis animositas, imprudentis offensio, minorans virtutem, et faciens vulnera.

41In convivio vini non arguas proximum, et non despicias eum in jucunditate illius.

42Verba improperii non dicas illi, et non premas illum repetendo.

1ἀγρυπνία πλούτου ἐκτήκει σάρκας καὶ ἡ μέριμνα αὐτοῦ ἀφιστᾷ ὕπνον

2μέριμνα ἀγρυπνίας ἀποστήσει νυσταγμόν καὶ ἀρρώστημα βαρὺ ἐκνήψει ὕπνον

3ἐκοπίασεν πλούσιος ἐν συναγωγῇ χρημάτων καὶ ἐν τῇ ἀναπαύσει ἐμπίμπλαται τῶν τρυφημάτων αὐτοῦ

4ἐκοπίασεν πτωχὸς ἐν ἐλαττώσει βίου καὶ ἐν τῇ ἀναπαύσει ἐπιδεὴς γίνεται

5ὁ ἀγαπῶν χρυσίον οὐ δικαιωθήσεται καὶ ὁ διώκων διάφορα ἐν αὐτοῖς πλανηθήσεται

6πολλοὶ ἐδόθησαν εἰς πτῶμα χάριν χρυσίου καὶ ἐγενήθη ἡ ἀπώλεια αὐτῶν κατὰ πρόσωπον αὐτῶν

7ξύλον προσκόμματός ἐστιν τοῖς ἐνθουσιάζουσιν αὐτῷ καὶ πᾶς ἄφρων ἁλώσεται ἐν αὐτῷ

8μακάριος πλούσιος ὃς εὑρέθη ἄμωμος καὶ ὃς ὀπίσω χρυσίου οὐκ ἐπορεύθη

9τίς ἐστιν καὶ μακαριοῦμεν αὐτόν ἐποίησεν γὰρ θαυμάσια ἐν λαῷ αὐτοῦ

10τίς ἐδοκιμάσθη ἐν αὐτῷ καὶ ἐτελειώθη καὶ ἔσται αὐτῷ εἰς καύχησιν τίς ἐδύνατο παραβῆναι καὶ οὐ παρέβη καὶ ποιῆσαι κακὰ καὶ οὐκ ἐποίησεν

11στερεωθήσεται τὰ ἀγαθὰ αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰς ἐλεημοσύνας αὐτοῦ ἐκδιηγήσεται ἐκκλησία

12ἐπὶ τραπέζης μεγάλης ἐκάθισας μὴ ἀνοίξῃς ἐπ' αὐτῆς φάρυγγά σου

13καὶ μὴ εἴπῃς πολλά γε τὰ ἐπ' αὐτῆς

14μνήσθητι ὅτι κακὸν ὀφθαλμὸς πονηρός

15πονηρότερον ὀφθαλμοῦ τί ἔκτισται διὰ τοῦτο ἀπὸ παντὸς προσώπου δακρύει

16οὗ ἐὰν ἐπιβλέψῃ μὴ ἐκτείνῃς χεῖρα

17καὶ μὴ συνθλίβου αὐτῷ ἐν τρυβλίῳ

18νόει τὰ τοῦ πλησίον ἐκ σεαυτοῦ καὶ ἐπὶ παντὶ πράγματι διανοοῦ

19φάγε ὡς ἄνθρωπος τὰ παρακείμενά σοι καὶ μὴ διαμασῶ μὴ μισηθῇς

20παῦσαι πρῶτος χάριν παιδείας καὶ μὴ ἀπληστεύου μήποτε προσκόψῃς

21καὶ εἰ ἀνὰ μέσον πλειόνων ἐκάθισας πρότερος αὐτῶν μὴ ἐκτείνῃς τὴν χεῖρά σου

22ὡς ἱκανὸν ἀνθρώπῳ πεπαιδευμένῳ τὸ ὀλίγον καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς κοίτης αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἀσθμαίνει

23πόνος ἀγρυπνίας καὶ χολέρας καὶ στρόφος μετὰ ἀνδρὸς ἀπλήστου

24ὕπνος ὑγιείας ἐπὶ ἐντέρῳ μετρίῳ ἀνέστη πρωί καὶ ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ μετ' αὐτοῦ

25καὶ εἰ ἐβιάσθης ἐν ἐδέσμασιν ἀνάστα ἔμεσον πόρρω καὶ ἀναπαύσῃ

26ἄκουσόν μου τέκνον καὶ μὴ ἐξουδενήσῃς με καὶ ἐπ' ἐσχάτων εὑρήσεις τοὺς λόγους μου

27ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ἔργοις σου γίνου ἐντρεχής καὶ πᾶν ἀρρώστημα οὐ μή σοι ἀπαντήσῃ

28λαμπρὸν ἐπ' ἄρτοις εὐλογήσει χείλη καὶ ἡ μαρτυρία τῆς καλλονῆς αὐτοῦ πιστή

29πονηρῷ ἐπ' ἄρτῳ διαγογγύσει πόλις καὶ ἡ μαρτυρία τῆς πονηρίας αὐτοῦ ἀκριβής

30ἐν οἴνῳ μὴ ἀνδρίζου πολλοὺς γὰρ ἀπώλεσεν ὁ οἶνος

31κάμινος δοκιμάζει στόμωμα ἐν βαφῇ οὕτως οἶνος καρδίας ἐν μάχῃ ὑπερηφάνων

32ἔφισον ζωῆς οἶνος ἀνθρώποις ἐὰν πίνῃς αὐτὸν ἐν μέτρῳ αὐτοῦ

33τίς ζωὴ ἐλασσουμένῳ οἴνῳ

35καὶ αὐτὸς ἔκτισται εἰς εὐφροσύνην ἀνθρώποις

36ἀγαλλίαμα καρδίας καὶ εὐφροσύνη ψυχῆς οἶνος πινόμενος ἐν καιρῷ αὐτάρκης

38πικρία ψυχῆς οἶνος πινόμενος πολὺς ἐν ἐρεθισμῷ καὶ ἀντιπτώματι

40πληθύνει μέθη θυμὸν ἄφρονος εἰς πρόσκομμα ἐλαττῶν ἰσχὺν καὶ προσποιῶν τραύματα

41ἐν συμποσίῳ οἴνου μὴ ἐλέγξῃς τὸν πλησίον καὶ μὴ ἐξουθενήσῃς αὐτὸν ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ αὐτοῦ

42λόγον ὀνειδισμοῦ μὴ εἴπῃς αὐτῷ καὶ μὴ αὐτὸν θλίψῃς ἐν ἀπαιτήσει