Sirach 31 - Contemporary English Version Interconfessional Edition

Money Problems

¹ The rich lie awake at night worrying about their money, and they waste away from lack of rest.

² It is hard to fall asleep when you are very sick or worried about money.

³ The rich work hard and get richer, then they rest in luxury.

⁴ But the poor work hard and barely earn a living, and if they rest, they become even poorer.

⁵ Some people love gold and aim to make big profits, and they will be led to do wrong instead of right.

⁶ Because of gold, many lives have been ruined or have ended in destruction.

⁷ Money controls those fools who worship it.

⁸ God will bless those rich people who do only what is right and don't try to get richer.

⁹ If you ever find such people, you should honor them for doing the impossible.

¹⁰ When tested by money, who can always do right? When people could cheat to get more money but instead are honest, they have something to boast about.

¹¹ The community will honor them for the kind things they do, and their wealth will grow.

Advice to Dinner Guests

¹² When you go to a banquet, don't stuff yourself just because so much food is on the table.

¹³ Some people's eyes want everything they see. Is anything more evil? Such eyes will have plenty of tears.

¹⁴ Don't reach out and grab the food you want or push others aside.

¹⁵ Be thoughtful of others— they have feelings too.

¹⁶ Eat what is served, but you won't be welcome if you gobble it up like an animal.

¹⁷ Show good manners; stop eating before others do. If you keep on eating, they will be offended.

¹⁸ And in a large group of people, don't be the first one to reach for the serving dish.

¹⁹ Train yourself to be satisfied with a little food, and later, in bed, you will not be in pain when you try to breathe.

²⁰ You will sleep well and wake up early, feeling good. But overeating causes cramps, as well as an upset stomach and sleepless nights.

²¹ If your host makes you overeat, leave the table and vomit— you will feel much better.

²² Listen to me! Pay attention, and later on, you will thank me. Don't try to eat too much, and you will stay healthy.

²³ It is right to honor those who are generous with food at their dinner parties.

²⁴ But the whole town is right to complain about a host who gives only a snack.

²⁵ Wine has destroyed many lives, and heavy drinking is no way to prove you are strong.

²⁶ The strength of iron is seen when it is heated, then dipped in water. And people show their arrogance when they argue after drinking wine.

²⁷ A little wine is refreshing, and to live without wine is hardly living at all. God created wine to make us happy.

²⁸ A little wine at the right time helps us celebrate.

²⁹ But drinking too much wine leads us to hate others and to take revenge.

³⁰ When fools are drunk, they become angry and fight, but their strength is gone, and so they get hurt.

³¹ Don't scold your friends or be disgusted when they drink and celebrate at a party. And don't make them feel bad or upset them with a reminder that they owe you money.