1883 Haydock Douay Rheims Bible

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Sirach 31:1 Watching for riches consumeth the flesh, and the thought thereof driveth away sleep.

Riches. Literally, "honesty" has this sense. (Haydock) --- The study of virtue and of the Scriptures removes temptations of the flesh. (St. Jerome, ad Rust.) (Worthington)
Sirach 31:2 The thinking beforehand turneth away the understanding, and a grievous sickness maketh the soul sober.

Hand. With too much anxiety. (Calmet) --- Greek, "the solicitude of watching will drive away slumber, and a grievous malady will moderate sleep," (Grabe; Haydock) or "sleep will alleviate a severe illness," as experience evinces. (Calmet)
Sirach 31:3 The rich man hath laboured in gathering riches together, and when he resteth he shall be filled with his goods.
Sirach 31:4 The poor man hath laboured in his low way of life, and in the end he is still poor.

Poor. All have not equal success, Proverbs 10:22, and Psalm 126:1. (Drusius)
Sirach 31:5 He that loveth gold, shall not be justified: and he that followeth after corruption, shall be filled with it.

Justified. He is exposed to various temptations, 1 Timothy 6:9.
Sirach 31:6 *Many have been brought to fall for gold, and the beauty thereof hath been their ruin.

Ecclesiasticus 8:3.
Sirach 31:7 Gold is a stumbling-block to them that sacrifice to it: woe to them that eagerly follow after it, and every fool shall perish by it.

To it. Being a sort of idol, Colossians 3:5. (Calmet) --- Woe. Greek, "and every," etc.
Sirach 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.

Nor, etc. Greek, (9.) who, etc. "Pride is the worm of riches." (St. Augustine) --- "In delights, chastity is endangered; and humility in the midst of riches." (St. Bernard, conv. Cler. xxx.) --- Not to transgress, on such occasions, is the greatest miracle. (Calmet) --- Man has free will, and those are happy, who, by God's grace, do not abuse it. (Worthington)
Sirach 31:9 Who is he, and we will praise him? for he hath done wonderful things in his life.
Sirach 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:
Sirach 31:11 Therefore are his goods established in the Lord, and all the church of the saints shall declare his alms.

In, etc. Alexandrian Greek, "and wisdom (Grabe substitutes the Church) shall proclaim his alms." (Haydock) --- God will bless his riches. (Calmet)
Sirach 31:12 Art thou set at a great table? be not the first to open thy mouth upon it.

Be, etc. Greek, "do not open," (Haydock) shew not too much greediness.
Sirach 31:13 Say not: There are many things which are upon it.
Sirach 31:14 Remember that a wicked eye is evil.

Wicked. Jealous or avaricious, as if the person feared lest he should have to prepare the like sumptuous entertainment, Proverbs 23:1. Judas blamed the profusion of Magdalene, John 12:5.
Sirach 31:15 What is created more wicked than an eye? therefore shall it weep over all the face when it shall see.

Face. Or portion set before him, 1 Kings 1:5. (Calmet) --- When. Greek, "wheresoever it, (Haydock) or he (Calmet) shall look, stretch not forth thy hand, and strive not with him in the dish. Judge," etc. Let the envious person (Haydock) or the master be served first. (Calmet)
Sirach 31:16 Stretch not out thy hand first, lest being disgraced with envy thou be put to confusion.
Sirach 31:17 Be not hasty in a feast.
Sirach 31:18 Judge of the disposition of thy neighbour by thyself.
Sirach 31:19 Use as a frugal man the things that are set before thee: lest if thou eatest much, thou be hated.

Use. Greek, "in all act considerately. Eat like a man," etc., (Haydock) not like a beast.
Sirach 31:20 Leave off first, for manners sake: and exceed not, lest thou offend.

First. Yet not too soon, lest the others should seem to be gluttons. (Calmet)
Sirach 31:21 And if thou sittest among many, reach not thy hand out first of all: and be not the first to ask for drink.

Of all. Greek, "of them. How," etc. (Haydock) --- Politeness is grounded on virtue. (Calmet)
Sirach 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.

Wine. Greek specifies nothing, and to eat much is unwholesome. (Haydock)
Sirach 31:23 Watching, and choler, and gripes, are with an intemperate man:

Choler. Or the cholic. The intemperate, infrunito, (Calmet) Greek, "insatiable," cannot sleep. (Haydock)
Sirach 31:24 Sound and wholesome sleep with a moderate man: he shall sleep till morning, and his soul shall be delighted with him.
Sirach 31:25 And if thou hast been forced to eat much, arise, go out, and vomit: and it shall refresh thee, and thou shalt not bring sickness upon thy body.

Vomit. Some have omitted this term as indelicate; but the Scripture does not approve of intemperance, while it advises the preventing of a disorder. A man's stomach may sometimes be innocently overcharged. On such occasions, an emetic was prescribed. The ancients had not the same horror of it as moderns, Proverbs 23:8. (Calmet) --- Cicero, addressing Caesar, says, Cum te vomere post caenam velli dixisses. (Pro. R. Dejot.) --- And thou. Greek, "hear," etc.
Sirach 31:26 Hear me, my son, and despise me not: and in the end thou shalt find my words.
Sirach 31:27 In all thy works be quick, and no infirmity shall come to thee.

Quick. Intemperance and idleness are the great sources of illness.
Sirach 31:28 The lips of many shall bless him that is liberal of his bread, and the testimony of his truth is faithful.

Bread. And other provisions; while the miser is contemned, Proverbs 22:9. (Calmet) --- Bread supports the body, and instruction the soul. If it be bad, it does the reverse. (Worthington)
Sirach 31:29 Against him that is niggardly of his bread, the city will murmur, and the testimony of his niggardliness is true.
Sirach 31:30 Challenge not them that love wine: *for wine hath destroyed very many.

Judith 13:4. 		Challenge. Not to fight, or rather (Haydock) to drink, Isaias 5:22. (Calmet)
Sirach 31:31 Fire trieth hard iron: so wine drunk to excess shall rebuke the hearts of the proud.

Rebuke. Or disorder. Greek, "prove," (Haydock) or "lay open." (Calmet) --- Consilium retegis Lydo. (Horace, 3:ode 21.)
Sirach 31:32 Wine taken with sobriety is equal life to men: if thou drink it moderately, thou shalt be sober.

Taken. Greek, "is as good as life," etc. --- Thou shalt. Greek, "what," etc.
Sirach 31:33 What is his life, who is diminished with wine?

With. Greek, "destitute of wine, (35.) and this was created to," etc.
Sirach 31:34 What taketh away life? death.
Sirach 31:35 *Wine was created from the beginning to make men joyful, and not to make them drunk.

Psalm 103:15.; Proverbs 31:4. 		And not. Greek, (36.) "sufficient wine taken in season is the," etc.
Sirach 31:36 Wine drunken with moderation is the joy of the soul, and the heart.
Sirach 31:37 Sober drinking is health to soul and body.

Sober. Greek, (39.) "wine," etc. (Haydock) --- Anacharsis said that "the vine bore three clusters; the first of pleasure, the second of drunkenness, the third of discontent." (Laertius i.)
Sirach 31:38 Wine drunken with excess raiseth quarrels, and wrath, and many ruins.
Sirach 31:39 Wine drunken with excess is bitterness of the soul.
Sirach 31:40 The heat of drunkenness is the stumbling-block of the fool, lessening strength, and causing wounds.
Sirach 31:41 Rebuke not thy neighbour in a banquet of wine: and despise him not in his mirth.
Sirach 31:42 Speak not to him words of reproach: and press him not in demanding again.

Reproach. Alexander [the Great] transfixed Clytus for so doing. (Curtius viii.) --- Again. By the pernicious custom of drinking healths, which still prevails in some countries, (Calmet) and occasions people to get drunk. (Drusius) --- Such abuses ought to be discouraged by every one. (Haydock)