Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 31

₁Worrying about money will make you lose weight and lose sleep. ₂Worrying about business will keep you from sleeping just as surely as a serious illness does.

₃Rich people work hard to make a lot of money; then they can sit back and live in luxury. ₄Poor people work hard and have nothing to show for it, and when they rest, they are still poor.

₅No one who loves money can be judged innocent; his efforts to get rich have led him into sin. ₆Many people have been ruined because of money, brought face to face with disaster. ₇Money is a trap for those who are fascinated by it, a trap that every fool falls into.

₈A person who gets rich without sinfully chasing after money is fortunate. ₉Do 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. ₁₀If 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? ₁₁If so, he deserves his wealth, and everyone will praise him for his generosity.

₁₂When you sit down at a fancy banquet, don't let your mouth hang open, and don't say, “Look at all that food!” ₁₃It 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. ₁₄Don't reach out for everything you see, and don't elbow people out of the way to get at the food. ₁₅Be considerate of the other people at the table and treat them the way you want to be treated. ₁₆When you get your food, eat it like a human being. Don't smack your lips and slurp; nobody can stand that. ₁₇It's good manners to be the first to stop eating; stuffing yourself is offensive. ₁₈If there are many people present, don't try to be the first to be served. ₁₉A little bit is plenty for anyone with good manners. Besides, you won't be short of breath when you go to bed. ₂₀People who eat too much get stomach-ache 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. ₂₁But if you do get a stomach-ache from eating too much, go off and vomit and you will feel better. ₂₂My 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 be sick.

₂₃People appreciate a generous host, and he deserves their praise. ₂₄But everybody in town will complain about a host who is stingy with food, and their complaints are justified.

₂₅Don't try to prove your manhood by how much you can drink. Wine has been the ruin of many. ₂₆An 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. ₂₇Wine 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 happy. ₂₈If you drink it in moderation and at the right time, it can raise your spirits and make you cheerful, ₂₉but if you drink when you are angry and upset, it leads to headaches, embarrassment, and disgrace. ₃₀A drunken fool can lose his temper and hurt himself. His drinking makes him weak and an easy target for angry blows. ₃₁Never 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.