### Douay Rheims Bible

Sirach 30

## The Book of Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus)

Return to Index

| # Chapter 31
#### 1 | Watching for riches consumeth the flesh, and the thought thereof driveth away sleep.
#### 2 | The thinking beforehand turneth away the understanding, and a grievous sickness maketh the soul sober.
#### 3 | The rich man hath laboured in gathering riches together, and when he resteth he shall be filled with his goods.
#### 4 | The poor man hath laboured in his low way of life, and in the end he is still poor.
#### 5 | He that loveth gold, shall not be justified: and he that followeth after corruption, shall be filled with it.
#### 6 | Many have been brought to fall for gold, and the beauty thereof hath been their ruin.
#### 7 | Gold is a stumblingblock to them that sacrifice to it: woe to them that eagerly follow after it, and every fool shall perish by it.
#### 8 | Blessed 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.
#### 9 | Who is he, and we will praise him? for he hath done wonderful things in his life.
#### 10 | Who 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:
#### 11 | Therefore are his goods established in the Lord, and all the church of the saints shall declare his alms.
#### 12 | Art thou set at a great table? be not the first to open thy mouth upon it.
#### 13 | Say not: There are many things which are upon it.
#### 14 | Remember that a wicked eye is evil.
#### 15 | What is created more wicked than an eye? therefore shall it weep over all the face when it shall see.
#### 16 | Stretch not out thy hand first, lest being disgraced with envy thou be put to confusion.
#### 17 | Be not hasty in a feast.
#### 18 | Judge of the disposition of thy neighbour by thyself.
#### 19 | Use as a frugal man the things that are set before thee: lest if thou eatest much, thou be hated.
#### 20 | Leave off first, for manners' sake: and exceed not, lest thou offend.
#### 21 | 21And if thou sittest among many, reach not thy hand out first of all: and be not the first to ask for drink.
#### 22 | How 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.
#### 23 | Watching, and choler, and gripes, are with an intemperate man:
#### 24 | Sound and wholesome sleep with a moderate man: he shall sleep till morning, and his soul shall be delighted with him.
#### 25 | And 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.
#### 26 | Hear me, my son, and despise me not: and in the end thou shalt find my words.
#### 27 | In all thy works be quick, and no infirmity shall come to thee.
#### 28 | The lips of many shall bless him that is liberal of his bread, and the testimony of his truth is faithful.
#### 29 | Against him that is niggardly of his bread, the city will murmur, and the testimony of his niggardliness is true.
#### 30 | Challenge not them that love wine: for wine hath destroyed very many.
#### 31 | Fire trieth hard iron: so wine drunk to excess shall rebuke the hearts of the proud.
#### 32 | Wine taken with sobriety is equal lire to men: if thou drink it moderately, thou shalt be sober.
#### 33 | What is his life, who is diminished with wine?
#### 34 | What taketh away life? death.
#### 35 | Wine was created from the beginning to make men joyful, and not to make them drunk.
#### 36 | Wine drunken with moderation is the joy of the soul and the heart.
#### 37 | Sober drinking is health to soul and body.
#### 38 | Wine drunken with excess raiseth quarrels; and wrath, and many ruins.
#### 39 | Wine drunken with excess is bitterness of the soul.
#### 40 | The heat of drunkenness is the stumblingblock of the fool, lessening strength and causing wounds.
#### 41 | Rebuke not thy neighbour in a banquet of wine: and despise him not in hip mirth.
#### 42 | Speak not to him words of reproach: and press him not in demanding again.

Sirach 32

Public Domain Software by johnhurt.com