1Wakefulness over wealth wastes away one’s flesh,

and anxiety about it drives away sleep.*

2Wakeful anxiety prevents slumber,

and a severe illness carries off sleep.v

3Rich people toil to amass possessions,

and when they rest, they fill themselves with their delicacies.*

4Poor people toil to make a meager living,

and if ever they rest, they become needy.*

5Those who love gold will not be justified;

those who pursue money will be led astrayw by it.*

6Many have come to ruin because of gold,

and their destruction has met them face to face.*

7It is a stumbling block to those who are avid for it,

and every fool will be taken captive by it.

8Blessed are the rich who are found blameless

and who do not go after gold.*

9Who are they, that we may call them happy?

For they have done wonders among their people.

10Who has been tested by it and been found perfect?

Let it be for them a ground for boasting.

Who has had the power to transgress and did not transgress

and to do evil and did not do it?

11Their prosperity will be established,x

and the assembly will proclaim their acts of charity.*

12yAre you seated at the table of the great?z

Do not be greedy at it,

and do not say, “How much food there is here!”*

13Remember that a greedy eye is a bad thing.

What has been created more greedy than the eye?

Therefore it covers the face with tears.*

14Do not reach out your hand for everything you see,

and do not crowd your neighbora at the dish.*

15Judge your neighbor’s feelings by your own,

and in every matter be thoughtful.*

16Eat what is set before you like a well brought-up person,b

and do not chew greedily, or you will be despised.*

17Be the first to stop, as befits good manners,

and do not be insatiable, or you will give offense.

18If you are seated among many persons,

do not help yourselfc before they do.*

19How ample a little is for the well-disciplined!

They do not breathe heavily when in bed.

20Healthy sleep depends on moderate eating;

they rise early and feel fit.

The distress of sleeplessness and of nausea

and colic are with the glutton.*

21If you are overstuffed with food,

get up to vomit, and you will have relief.

22Listen to me, my child, and do not disregard me,

and in the end you will appreciate my words.

In everything you do be moderate,d

and no sickness will overtake you.

23People bless those who are liberal with food,

and the testimony to their generosity is trustworthy.*

24The city complains of those who are stingy with food,

and the testimony to their stinginess is accurate.*

25Do not try to prove your strength by wine-drinking,

for wine has destroyed many.*

26As the furnace tests the work of the smith,e

so wine tests hearts when the insolent quarrel.*

27Wine is very life to humans

if taken in moderation.

What is life to one who is without wine?

It has been created to make people happy.*

28Wine drunk at the proper time and in moderation

is rejoicing of heart and gladness of soul.*

29Wine drunk to excess leads to bitterness of spirit,

to quarrels and stumbling.*

30Drunkenness increases the anger of fools to their own hurt,

reducing their strength and adding wounds.*

31Do not reprove your neighbors at a banquet of wine,

and do not despise them in their merrymaking;

speak no word of reproach to them,

and do not distress them by making demands of them.*