1Wakefulness that cometh of riches consumeth the flesh,
And the anxiety thereof putteth away sleep.

2Wakeful anxiety will crave slumber;
And ¹³⁶in a sore disease sleep will be broken.

3A rich man toileth in gathering money together;
And when he resteth, he is filled with his good things.

4A poor man toileth in lack of substance;
And when he resteth, he becometh needy.

5He that loveth gold shall not be justified;
And he that followeth destruction shall himself have his fill of it.

6Many have been given over to ruin for the sake of gold;
And their perdition ¹³⁷meeteth them face to face.

7It is a stumblingblock unto them that sacrifice unto it;
And every fool shall be taken therewith.

8Blessed is the rich that is found without blemish,
And that goeth not after gold.

9Who is he? and we will call him blessed:
For wonderful things hath he done among his people.

10Who hath been tried thereby, and found perfect?
Then let him glory.
Who hath had the power to transgress, and hath not transgressed?
And to do evil, and hath not done it?

11His goods shall be made sure,
And the congregation shall declare his alms.

12Sittest thou at a great table? ¹³⁸be not greedy upon it,
And say not, Many are the things upon it.

13Remember that an evil eye is a wicked thing:
What hath been created more evil than an eye?
Therefore it sheddeth tears from every face.

14Stretch not thine hand whithersoever it looketh,
And thrust not thyself with it into the dish.

15Consider thy neighbour’s liking by thine own;
And be discreet in every point.

16Eat, as becometh a man, those things which are set before thee;
And eat not greedily, lest thou be hated.

17Be first to leave off for manners’ sake;
And be not insatiable, lest thou offend.

18And if thou sittest among many,
Reach not out thy hand before them.

19How sufficient to a well-mannered man is a very little,
And he doth not breathe hard upon his bed.

20Healthy sleep cometh of moderate eating;
He riseth early, and his wits are with him:
The pain of wakefulness, and colic,
And griping, are with an insatiable man.

21And if thou hast been forced to eat,
Rise up in the midst thereof, and thou shalt have rest.

22Hear me, my son, and despise me not,
And at the last thou shalt find my words true:
In all thy works be quick,
And no disease shall come unto thee.

23Him that is liberal of his meat the lips shall bless;
And the testimony of his excellence shall be believed.

24Him that is a niggard of his meat the city shall murmur at;
And the testimony of his niggardness shall be sure.

25Shew not thyself valiant in wine;
For wine hath destroyed many.

26The furnace proveth the temper of steel by dipping;
So doth wine prove hearts in the quarreling of the proud.

27Wine is as good as life to men,
If thou drink it in its measure:
What life is there to a man that is without wine?
And it hath been created to make men glad.

28Wine drunk in season and to satisfy
Is joy of heart, and gladness of soul:

29Wine drunk largely is bitterness of soul,
With provocation and conflict.

30Drunkenness increaseth the rage of a fool unto his hurt;
It diminisheth strength, and addeth wounds.

31Rebuke not thy neighbour at a banquet of wine,
Neither set him at nought in his mirth:
Speak not unto him a word of reproach,
And press not upon him by asking back a debt.