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Apoteichisis

The Old Testament

Wisdom of Sirach 34

ΣΟΦΙΑ ΣΕΙΡΑΧ · 34

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31 Brenton verses

Brenton 34:1

Watching for riches consumeth the flesh, and the care thereof driveth away sleep.

Brenton 34:2

Watching care will not let a man slumber, as a sore disease breaketh sleep.

Brenton 34:3

The rich hath great labour in gathering riches together; and when he resteth, he is filled with his delicacies.

Brenton 34:4

The poor laboureth in his poor estate; and when he leaveth off, he is still needy.

Brenton 34:5

He that loveth gold shall not be justified, and he that followeth corruption shall have enough thereof.

Brenton 34:6

Gold hath been the ruin of many, and their destruction was present.

Brenton 34:7

It is a stumblingblock unto them that sacrifice unto it, and every fool shall be taken therewith.

Brenton 34:8

Blessed is the rich that is found without blemish, and hath not gone after gold.

Brenton 34:9

Who is he? and we will call him blessed: for wonderful things hath he done among his people.

Brenton 34:10

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?

Brenton 34:11

His goods shall be established, and the congregation shall declare his alms.

Brenton 34:12

If thou sit at a bountiful table, be not greedy upon it, and say not, There is much meat on it.

Brenton 34:13

Remember that a wicked eye is an evil thing: and what is created more wicked than an eye? therefore it weepeth upon every occasion.

Brenton 34:14

Stretch not thine hand whithersoever it looketh, and thrust it not with him into the dish.

Brenton 34:15

Judge of thy neighbour by thyself: and be discreet in every point.

Brenton 34:16

Eat, as it becometh a man, those things which are set before thee; and devour not, lest thou be hated.

Brenton 34:17

Leave off first for manners' sake; and be not unsatiable, lest thou offend.

Brenton 34:18

When thou sittest among many, reach not thine hand out first of all.

Brenton 34:19

A very little is sufficient for a man well nurtured, and he fetcheth not his wind short upon his bed.

Brenton 34:20

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.

Brenton 34:21

And if thou hast been forced to eat, arise, go forth, vomit, and thou shalt have rest.

Brenton 34:22

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.

Brenton 34:23

Whoso is liberal of his meat, men shall speak well of him; and the report of his good housekeeping will be believed.

Brenton 34:24

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.

Brenton 34:25

Shew not thy valiantness in wine; for wine hath destroyed many.

Brenton 34:26

The furnace proveth the edge by dipping: so doth wine the hearts of the proud by drunkenness.

Brenton 34:27

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.

Brenton 34:28

Wine measurably drunk and in season bringeth gladness of the heart, and cheerfulness of the mind:

Brenton 34:29

but wine drunken with excess maketh bitterness of the mind, with brawling and quarrelling.

Brenton 34:30

Drunkenness increaseth the rage of a fool till he offend: it diminisheth strength, and maketh wounds.

Brenton 34:31

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].

Brenton supplied wording, small capitals, translation notes, Greek wording, and edition-specific verse identifiers are retained. Parallel passages keep each edition's own references. Editions and sources.