Sirach 31
GNV1560Tap a verse number to view it individually, or to play chapter audio from that verse when it’s loaded. Tap any word for its 1828 dictionary definition.
1WAking after riches pineth away the bodie, and the care thereof driueth away slepe. 2This waking care breaketh the slepe, as a great sickenes breaketh the slepe. 3The riche hathe great labour in gathering riches together, and in his rest he is filled with pleasures. 4The pore laboreth in liuing poorely, and when he leaueth of, he is stil poore. 5He that loueth golde, shal not be iustified, and he that followeth corruption, shal haue ynough thereof. 6Many are destroied by the reason of golde, and haue founde their destruction before them. 7It is as a stumbling blocke vnto them that sacrifice vnto it, and euerie foole is taken therewith. 8Blessed is the riche which is founde without blemish, and hathe not gone after golde, [nor hoped in money and treasures.] 9Who is he, and we wil commende him? for wonderful things hathe he downe among his people. 11Therefore shal his goods be stablished, and the congregacion shal declare his almes. 12If thou sit at a costlie table, open not thy mouth wide vpon it, & say not, Beholde muche meat. 13Remembre that an euil eye is a shrewe: & what thing created is worse then a wicked eye? for it wepeth for euerie cause. 14Stretch not thine hand wheresoeuer it loketh, and thrust it not with it into the dish. 15Consider by thy self him that is by thee, and marke euerie thing. 16Eat modestly that which is set before thee, and deuoure not, lest thou be hated. 17Leaue thou of first for nourtours sake, & be not insaciable, lest thou offend. 18When thou sittest among many, reache not thine hand out first of all. 19How litle is sufficient for a man wel taught? and thereby he belcheth not in his chamber, [nor feleth any paine.] 20A wholsome slepe cometh of a temperat bellie: he riseth vp in the morning, and is wel at ease in him self: but paine in watching and cholericke diseases, and pangs of the bellie are with an vnsaciable man. 21If thou hast bene forced to eat, arise, go forthe, vomit, and then take thy rest: [so thou shalt bring no sickenes vnto thy bodie.] 22My sonne, heare me, and dispise me not, and at the last thou shalt finde as I haue tolde thee: in all thy workes be quicke, so shal there no sicknes come vnto thee. 23Who so is liberal in his meat, men shal blesse him: and the testimonie of his honestie shal be beleued. 24But against him that is a nigard of his meat, the whole citie shal murmure: the testimonies of his nigardnes shalbe sure. 25Shewe not thy valiantnes in wine: for wine hathe destroied manie. 26The fornace proueth the edge in the tempering: so doeth wine the hearts of the proude by drunkennes. 27Wine soberly dronken, is profitable for the life of man: what is his life that is ouercome with wine? 28Wine was made [from the beginning] to make men glad, [and not for drunkennes.] Wine mesurably dronken and in time, bringeth gladnes and cherefulnes of the minde. 29But wine dronken with excesse, maketh bitternes of minde with braulings and skouldings. 30Drunkennes increaseth the courage of a foole, til he offend: it diminisheth his strength and maketh woundes. 31Rebuke not thy neighbour at the wine, and dispise him not in his mirth: giue him no dispiteful wordes, and presse not vpon him with contrarie wordes.
Chapters in Sirach