Friday, February 27, 2009

Friday is for Ad Fontes - Sirach and Wine

Friday night is always red wine and primary sources night for me. Here is my latest reading from Sirach 31:

(25) Let not wine-drinking be the proof of your strength, for wine has been the ruin of many. (26) As the furnace probes the work of the smith, so does wine the hearts of the insolent. (27) Wine is very life to man if taken in moderation. Does he really live who lacks the wine which was created for his joy? (28) Joy of heart, good cheer and merriment are wine drunk freely at the proper time. (29) Headache, bitterness and disgrace is wine drunk amid anger and strife. (30) More and more wine is a snare for the fool; it lessens his strength and multiplies his wounds. (31) Rebuke not your neighbor when wine is served, nor put him to shame while he is merry; Use no harsh words with him and distress him not in the presence of others (NAB).

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Ah, what truth you have found.

C. Stirling Bartholomew said...

I had a four ounce glass of Napa Valley Merlot with a dinner of garlic chicken breast, coscos and spinach. I picked up Climax of the Covenant for a little light reading and after about one half a paragraph set it down in disgust, there is a lot of bull in N.T. Wright. I have a lot tolerance for bull. Life is too short to read it.