Sirach Chapter 31

English (Douay-Rheims)

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 stumbling block 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 And 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 life 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 stumbling block of the fool, lessening strength and causing wounds.
41 Rebuke not thy neighbour in a banquet of wine: and despise him not in his mirth.
42 Speak not to him words of reproach: and press him not in demanding again.

Old Testament first published 1609 by the English College at Douay
New Testament first published 1582 by the English College at Rheims
Revised and Annotated 1749 by Bishop Richard Challoner
Imprimatur. +James Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore, September 1, 1899

Latin (Clementine Vulgate)

1 Vigilia honestatis tabefaciet carnes,
et cogitatus illius auferet somnum.
2 Cogitatus præscientiæ avertit sensum,
et infirmitas gravis sobriam facit animam.
3 Laboravit dives in congregatione substantiæ,
et in requie sua replebitur bonis suis.
4 Laboravit pauper in diminutione victus,
et in fine inops fit.
5 Qui aurum diligit non justificabitur,
et qui insequitur consumptionem replebitur ex ea.
6 Multi dati sunt in auri casus,
et facta est in specie ipsius perditio illorum.
7 Lignum offensionis est aurum sacrificantium:
væ illis qui sectantur illud!
et omnis imprudens deperiet in illo.
8 Beatus dives qui inventus est sine macula,
et qui post aurum non abiit,
nec speravit in pecunia et thesauris.
9 Quis est hic? et laudabimus eum:
fecit enim mirabilia in vita sua.
10 Qui probatus est in illo, et perfectus est, erit illi gloria æterna:
qui potuit transgredi, et non est transgressus;
facere mala, et non fecit.
11 Ideo stabilita sunt bona illius in Domino,
et eleemosynas illius enarrabit omnis ecclesia sanctorum.

12 Supra mensam magnam sedisti?
non aperias super illam faucem tuam prior.
13 Non dicas sic: Multa sunt, quæ super illam sunt.
14 Memento quoniam malus est oculus nequam.
15 Nequius oculo quid creatum est?
ideo ab omni facie sua lacrimabitur, cum viderit.
16 Ne extendas manum tuam prior,
et invidia contaminatus erubescas.
17 Ne comprimaris in convivio.
18 Intellige quæ sunt proximi tui ex teipso.
19 Utere quasi homo frugi his quæ tibi apponuntur:
ne, cum manducas multum, odio habearis.
20 Cessa prior causa disciplinæ:
et noli nimius esse, ne forte offendas.
21 Et si in medio multorum sedisti,
prior illis ne extendas manum tuam,
nec prior poscas bibere.
22 Quam sufficiens est homini eruditio vinum exiguum!
et in dormiendo non laborabis ab illo,
et non senties dolorem.
23 Vigilia, cholera et tortura viro infrunito,
24 somnus sanitatis in homine parco:
dormiet usque mane,
et anima illius cum ipso delectabitur.
25 Et si coactus fueris in edendo multum,
surge e medio, evome, et refrigerabit te,
et non adduces corpori tuo infirmitatem.
26 Audi me, fili, et ne spernas me,
et in novissimo invenies verba mea.
27 In omnibus operibus tuis esto velox,
et omnis infirmitas non occurret tibi.
28 Splendidum in panibus benedicent labia multorum,
et testimonium veritatis illius fidele.
29 Nequissimo in pane murmurabit civitas,
et testimonium nequitiæ illius verum est.
30 Diligentes in vino noli provocare:
multos enim exterminavit vinum.
31 Ignis probat ferrum durum:
sic vinum corda superborum arguet in ebrietate potatum.
32 Æqua vita hominibus vinum in sobrietate:
si bibas illud moderate, eris sobrius.
33 Quæ vita est ei qui minuitur vino?
34 Quid defraudat vitam? mors.
35 Vinum in jucunditatem creatum est,
et non in ebrietatem ab initio.
36 Exsultatio animæ et cordis vinum moderate potatum.
37 Sanitas est animæ et corpori sobrius potus.
38 Vinum multum potatum irritationem,
et iram, et ruinas multas facit.
39 Amaritudo animæ
vinum multum potatum.
40 Ebrietatis animositas, imprudentis offensio,
minorans virtutem, et faciens vulnera.
41 In convivio vini non arguas proximum,
et non despicias eum in jucunditate illius.
42 Verba improperii non dicas illi,
et non premas illum repetendo.

Transcribed as part of the Clementine Vulgate Project
Please notify the original transcriber (little.mouth@soon.com) of any errors in this Latin edition

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