1
Watching for riches consumeth the flesh and the care thereof driveth away sleep
2
Watching care will not let a man slumber as a sore disease breaketh sleep
3
The rich hath great labour in gathering riches together and when he resteth he is filled with his delicates
4
The poor laboureth in his poor estate and when he leaveth off he is still needy
5
He that loveth gold shall not be justified and he that followeth corruption shall have enough thereof
6
Gold hath been the ruin of many and their destruction was present
7
It is a stumblingblock unto them that sacrifice unto it and every fool shall be taken therewith
8
Blessed is the rich that is found without blemish and hath not gone after gold
9
Who is he and we will call him blessed for wonderful things hath he done among his people
10
Who hath been tried thereby and found perfect then let him glory Who might offend and hath not offended or done evil and hath not done it
11
His goods shall be established and the congregation shall declare his alms
12
If thou sit at a bountiful table be not greedy upon it and say not There is much meat on it
13
Remember that a wicked eye is an evil thing and what is created more wicked than an eye therefore it weepeth upon every occasion
14
Stretch not thine hand whithersoever it looketh and thrust it not with him into the dish
15
Judge not thy neighbour by thyself and be discreet in every point
16
Eat as it becometh a man those things which are set before thee and devour not lest thou be hated
17
Leave off first for nners’ sake and be not unsatiable lest thou offend
18
When thou sittest among many reach not thine hand out first of all
19
A very little is sufficient for a man well nurtured and he fetcheth not his 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