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