Sirach 37:17-31: a reflection

Sirach turns to a practical matter of self-control, warning especially against being ruled by our appetites. Don't be insatiable in any luxury, he counsels; don't be greedy in the things that you eat. For overeating brings disease, and gluttony causes nausea. Because of gluttony, many have perished, but he who takes heed shall prolong his life. Sirach urges moderation and self-control, not being ruled by our appetites, not being greedy or insatiable, but taking heed and restraining ourselves. Though he speaks of food, the principle reaches to all our appetites: that being ruled by them, giving in to greed and excess, harms us, while self-control and moderation are good for us. There is wisdom in not being mastered by our appetites but restraining them, in moderation rather than excess. Self-control and moderation, not being ruled by our appetites, is wise and good for us. To restrain our appetites rather than being mastered by them is wisdom. Moderation guards us; being ruled by appetite harms us.

Notice the counsel Sirach gives: moderation and self-control over our appetites. He warns against being insatiable, greedy, ruled by our desires, especially in eating; and he commends taking heed, restraining ourselves, moderation. His concern is practical, even about health, but the principle reaches wider: that being mastered by our appetites, giving in to greed and excess, harms us, while self-control and moderation are good for us. We can be ruled by our appetites, whatever they are, giving in to excess, unable to restrain ourselves; but this mastery by appetite is not freedom but a kind of bondage, and it harms us. There is wisdom, and a kind of freedom, in self-control, in not being ruled by our desires but restraining them, in moderation rather than excess. To be master of our appetites rather than mastered by them is good for us, in body and soul. Sirach's counsel is toward the self-control that guards us from the harm of excess. To restrain our appetites, practicing moderation, is wiser and better than being ruled by them. Self-control is a freedom, not a deprivation. To master our appetites rather than be mastered by them is wisdom and health.

That is worth taking to heart, for self-control and moderation over our appetites is wise and good for us, while being ruled by them harms us. We can be ruled by our appetites, giving in to greed and excess, unable or unwilling to restrain ourselves; but Sirach warns that being mastered by our appetites harms us, while self-control and moderation are good. To be ruled by appetite is not freedom but bondage; to restrain our appetites is wise and good. Do not be ruled by your appetites, giving in to greed and excess; practice self-control and moderation, as Sirach counsels, which is good for you. Practice self-control and moderation over your appetites rather than being ruled by them, giving in to greed and excess, as Sirach warns against being insatiable and greedy and commends taking heed, since gluttony has caused many to perish while he who takes heed prolongs his life; for being mastered by our appetites, whatever they are, is not freedom but a kind of bondage that harms us in body and soul, while self-control and moderation guard us and are good for us, so that to restrain our appetites rather than be ruled by them is wisdom and a kind of freedom, and there is real good in moderation rather than excess, in mastering our desires rather than being mastered by them.