What does Ecclesiasticus Chapter 31 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

Riches and tested integrity are distinguished from wealth idolatry. Table manners and ancient health claims retain conditions without medical advice. Wine praise and excess warnings end with restraint in rebuke and repayment demands.

Chapter breakdown

Ecclesiasticus 31 says watching riches consumes flesh and banishes sleep; advance thought diverts understanding and grievous sickness sobers soul. Rich labor accumulates goods for rest while poor labor ends still poor. Gold-love is not justified, corruption-seeking filled by it, many ruined by gold's beauty; its worshippers stumble and fools perish. Blessed rich are blemishless without pursuing gold or trusting money; they deserve praise for wonderful works. One tested and perfected gains everlasting glory, able to transgress or do evil but refusing; goods are established in God and saints declare alms. These are the speaker's statements, not certified achievements by an imagined disciple.

At a great table do not open mouth first or exclaim at abundance; remember wicked eye, asked as most wicked and weeping over face. Do not reach first through envy-confusion, rush a feast or disregard neighbor disposition as judged by self. Use food frugally against hatred and stop first for manners without excess; among many avoid first reach or drink request. Little wine is said sufficient for well-taught painless sleep, intemperance associated with watching, choler and gripes, moderation with wholesome sleep till morning. If forced to eat much the text says arise, go out and vomit for refreshment without sickness; it also promises quick work no infirmity. These ancient health assertions remain accurately represented without being modern medical advice or guaranteed prevention. Stopping eating is not changed to departing early.

Hear the son-instruction to find words at end. Liberal bread earns blessing and faithful testimony, niggardly bread city murmuring. Do not challenge wine-lovers; wine has destroyed many. Excess tests proud hearts like fire hard iron, sobriety equals life; diminished wine-life and death are questioned. Wine was made for joy not drunkenness; moderation is joy of soul/heart and sober drinking called health, while excess brings quarrels, wrath, ruins and bitterness, drunken heat fools' stumbling, lost strength and wounds. Do not rebuke neighbors at wine banquets, despise mirth, reproach or press repayment. No added claim recommends alcohol for health or guarantees preserved reason.

The story inside

Opening: Riches and tested integrity are distinguished from wealth idolatry. Development: Table manners and ancient health claims retain conditions without medical advice. Conclusion: Wine praise and excess warnings end with restraint in rebuke and repayment demands.

Lessons worth keeping

1
Riches and tested integrity are distinguished from wealth idolatry.
2
Table manners and ancient health claims retain conditions without medical advice.
3
Wine praise and excess warnings end with restraint in rebuke and repayment demands.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 76376–76387
31:8. Blessed is the rich man that is found without blemish: and that hath not gone after gold, nor put his trust in money nor in treasures. 31:9. Who is he, and we will praise him? for he hath done wonderful things in his life. 31:10. Who hath been tried thereby, and made perfect, he shall have glory everlasting. He that could have transgressed, and hath not transgressed: and could do evil things, and hath not done them: 31:11. Therefore are his goods established in the Lord, and all the church of the saints shall declare his alms.
Lines 76415–76421
31:22. How sufficient is a little wine for a man well taught, and in sleeping thou shalt not be uneasy with it, and thou shalt feel no pain. 31:23. Watching, and choler, and gripes, are with an intemperate man: 31:24. Sound and wholesome sleep with a moderate man: he shall sleep till morning, and his soul shall be delighted with him.
Lines 76451–76460
31:35. Wine was created from the beginning to make men joyful, and not to make them drunk. 31:36. Wine drunken with moderation is the joy of the soul and the heart. 31:37. Sober drinking is health to soul and body. 31:38. Wine drunken with excess raiseth quarrels, and wrath, and many ruins.