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31:1  Worrying about money will make you lose weight and lose sleep.
31:2  Worrying about business will keep you from sleeping just as surely as a serious illness does.
31:3  Rich people work hard to make a lot of money; then they can sit back and live in luxury.
31:4  Poor people work hard and have nothing to show for it, and when they rest, they are still poor.
31:5  No one who loves money can be judged innocent; his efforts to get rich have led him into sin.
31:6  Many people have been ruined because of money, brought face-to-face with disaster.
31:7  Money is a trap for those who are fascinated by it, a trap that every fool falls into.
31:8  A person who gets rich without sinfully chasing after money is fortunate.
31:9  Do you know anyone like that? If so, we will congratulate him for performing a miracle that no one else has ever been able to do.
31:10  If anyone has ever passed this test, he can well be proud. Has anyone ever known that he could get away with cheating someone, and not taken advantage of it?
31:11  If so, he deserves his wealth, and everyone will praise him for his generosity.
31:12  When you sit down at a fancy banquet, don't let your mouth hang open, and don't say, Look at all that food!
31:13  It is impolite to have a greedy eye; remember that. Nothing in creation is greedier than the eye; that is why it sheds tears so often.
31:14  Don't reach out for everything you see, and don't elbow people out of the way to get at the food.
31:15  Be considerate of the other people at the table and treat them the way you want to be treated.
31:16  When you get your food, eat it like a human being. Don't smack and slurp; nobody can stand that.
31:17  It's good manners to be the first to stop eating; stuffing yourself is offensive.
31:18  If there are many people present, don't try to be the first to be served.
31:19  A little bit is plenty for anyone with good manners. Besides, you won't be short of breath when you go to bed.
31:20  People who eat too much get stomach aches and cannot sleep. If you don't overeat, you can get a good night's sleep and wake up early the next morning feeling fine.
31:21  But if you do get a stomach ache from eating too much, go off and vomit and you will feel better.
31:22  My child, if you listen to what I am saying and put it into practice, one of these days you will thank me for it. Be moderate in everything you do, and you will never get sick.
31:23  People appreciate a generous host, and he deserves their praise.
31:24  But everybody in town will complain about a host who is stingy with food, and their complaints are justified.
31:25  Don't try to prove your manhood by how much you can drink. Wine has been the ruin of many.
31:26  An arrogant person's character shows through when he is in a drunken argument, in the same way that iron is tested when it is heated red-hot and then dipped in water.
31:27  Wine can put new life into you if you drink it in moderation. What would life be like without it? Wine was created to make us happy.
31:28  If you drink it in moderation and at the right time, it can lift your spirits and make you cheerful,
31:29  but if you drink when you are angry and upset, it leads to headaches, embarrassment, and disgrace.
31:30  A drunken fool can lose his temper and hurt himself. His drinking makes him weak and an easy target for angry blows.
31:31  Never rebuke a person when you have both been drinking. Don't hurt his feelings while he is having a good time. It's not the time to criticize anyone, or to ask him to pay back a debt.