wind short upon his bed.
[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.
[21] And if thou hast been forced to eat, arise, go forth, vomit, and thou shalt have rest.
[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.
[23] Whoso is liberal of his meat, men shall speak well of him; and the report of his good housekeeping will be believed.
[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.
[25] Shew not thy valiantness in wine; for wine hath destroyed many.
[26] The furnace proveth the edge by dipping: so doth wine the hearts of the proud by drunkeness.
[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.
[28] Wine measurably drunk and in season bringeth gladness of the heart, and cheerfulness of the mind:
[29] But wine drunken with excess maketh bitterness of the mind, with brawling and quarrelling.
[30] Drunkenness increaseth the rage of a fool till he offend: it diminisheth strength, and maketh wounds.
[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.]

Sir.32

[1] If thou be made the master [of a feast,] lift not thyself up, but be among them as one of the rest; take diligent care for them, and so sit down.
[2] And when thou hast done all thy office, take thy place, that thou mayest be merry with them, and receive a crown for thy well ordering of the feast.
[3] Speak, thou that art the elder, for it becometh thee, but with sound judgment; and hinder not musick.
[4] Pour not out words where there is a musician, and shew not forth wisdom out of time.
[5] A concert of musick in a banquet of wine is as a signet of carbuncle set in gold.
[6] As a signet of an emerald set in a work of gold, so is the melody of musick with pleasant wine.
[7] Speak, young man, if there be need of thee: and yet scarcely when thou art twice asked.
[8] Let thy speech be short, comprehending much in few words; be as one that knoweth and yet holdeth his tongue.
[9] If thou be among great men, make not thyself equal with them; and when ancient men are in place, use not many words.
[10] Before the thunder goeth lightning; and before a shamefaced man shall go favour.
[11] Rise up betimes, and be not the last; but get thee home without delay.
[12] There take thy pastime, and do what thou wilt: but sin not by proud speech.
[13] And for these things bless him that made thee, and hath replenished thee with his good things.
[14] Whoso feareth the Lord will receive his discipline; and they that seek him early shall find favour.
[15] He that seeketh the law shall be filled therewith: but the hypocrite will be offended thereat.
[16] They that fear the Lord shall find judgment, and shall kindle justice as a light.
[17] A sinful man will not be reproved, but findeth an excuse according to his will.
[18] A man of counsel will be considerate; but a strange and proud man is not daunted with fear, even when of himself he hath done without counsel.
[19] Do nothing without advice; and when thou hast once done, repent not.
[20] Go not in a way wherein thou mayest fall, and stumble not among the stones.
[21] Be not confident in a plain way.
[22] And beware of thine own children.
[23] In every good work trust thy own soul; for this is the keeping of the commandments.
[24] He that believeth in the Lord taketh heed to the commandment; and he that trusteth in him shall fare never the worse.

Sir.33

[1] There shall no evil happen unto him that feareth the Lord; but in temptation even again he will deliver him.
[2] A wise man hateth not the law; but he that is an hypocrite therein is as a ship in a storm.
[3] A man of understanding trusteth in the law; and the law is faithful unto him, as an oracle.
[4] Prepare what to say, and so thou shalt be heard: and bind up instruction, and then make answer.
[5] The heart of the foolish is like a cartwheel; and his thoughts are like a rolling axletree.
[6] A stallion horse is as a mocking friend, he neigheth under every one that sitteth upon him.
[7] Why doth one day excel another, when as all the light of every day in the year is of the sun?
[8] By the knowledge of the Lord they were distinguished: and he altered seasons and feasts.
[9] Some of them hath he made high days, and hallowed them, and some of them hath he made ordinary days.
[10] And all men are from the ground, and Adam was created of earth:
[11] In much knowledge the Lord hath divided them, and made their ways diverse.
[12] Some of them hath he blessed and exalted and some of them he sanctified, and set near himself: but some of