Глава 31

He who loves gold will not remain righteous; he who pursues corruption will be filled with it. Beware of greed in everything. Be careful in all your affairs, and no illness will befall you. Sir.31:1 Watching over wealth exhausts the body, and caring for it drives away sleep. Sir.31:2 Vigilant care does not allow one to slumber, and serious illness takes away sleep. Sir.31:3 The rich man has labored to increase his wealth, and in peace he is satisfied with his goods. Sir.31:4 The poor man has labored despite the shortcomings in life, and in peace he remains poor. Sir.31:5 He who loves gold will not be right, and he who pursues corruption will be filled with it. Sir.31:6 For the sake of gold many fell, and their destruction was before them; Sir.31:7 It is a tree of stumbling for those who offer sacrifices to it, and everyone who is foolish will be caught by it. Sir.31:8 Happy is the rich man who was blameless and who did not pursue gold. Sir.31:9 Who is he? and we will glorify him; for he had done a miracle among his people. Sir.31:10 Who was tempted with gold and remained blameless? Let this be to his praise. Sir.31:11 Who could have sinned and did not sin, or do evil and did not? Sir.31:12 His wealth will last, and the congregation will proclaim his alms. 1–12. The accumulation of wealth is associated with many troubles and worries, but its possession is accompanied by real peace and reproach only when the wealth is acquired and spent without violating the laws of God. Sir.31:13 When you sit down at a rich table, do not open your throat to it Sir.31:14 and do not say: “There is a lot on him!” Remember that the greedy eye is an evil thing. Sir.31:15 What created thing is more envious than the eye? That's why he cries for everything he sees. Sir.31:16 Wherever he looks, do not stretch out your hand, and do not collide with him in the dish. 16. Do not rush to extend your hand to the dish that the greedy eye is looking at. Sir.31:17 Judge your neighbor by yourself and reason about every action. Sir.31:18 Eat like a man what is set before you, and do not be full, lest they hate you; Sir.31:19 Stop eating first out of politeness and do not be greedy, so as not to serve as a temptation; Sir.31:20 And if you sit in the midst of many, do not stretch out your hand before them. Sir.31:21 A well-bred man is content with little, and therefore he does not suffer from shortness of breath on his bed. Sir.31:22 Healthy sleep comes from a moderate stomach: he got up early, and his soul was with him; 22. And his soul is with him, i.e. in a waking state. Sir.31:23 Suffering from insomnia and cholera and pain in the stomach happen to an insatiable person. Sir.31:24 If you are burdened with food, then get up from the table and rest. Sir.31:25 Listen to me, my son, and do not despise me, and later you will understand my words. Sir.31:26 Be careful in all your affairs, and no illness will befall you. Sir.31:27 The lips of the one who is generous with the bread will bless, and the testimony of his goodness will be true; Sir.31:28 The city will murmur against the stingy one about bread, and the testimony of his stinginess is just. Sir.31:29 Do not show yourself brave against wine, for wine has destroyed many. Sir.31:30 The furnace tests the strength of the blade by hardening; This is how wine tests the hearts of the proud - through drunkenness. 30. Just as fire reveals the real dignity of metal, so a person’s drunken state can reveal his innermost thoughts and feelings. Sir.31:31 Wine is good for human life if you drink it in moderation. Sir.31:32 What is life without wine? it was created for the joy of people. Sir.31:33 Wine, consumed in moderation at the right time, is a delight to the heart and a consolation to the soul; Sir.31:34 Wine is a sorrow to the soul when one drinks a lot of it, during irritation and quarrel. Sir.31:35 Excessive consumption of wine increases the rage of the foolish to the point of stumbling, diminishing his strength and causing wounds. Sir.31:36 At a wine feast, do not reproach your neighbor and do not humiliate him during his fun; Sir.31:37 Do not speak insulting words to him and do not burden him with demands.