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