Sirach
10:1 A wise judge will instruct his people; and the government of a prudent
man is well ordered.
10:2 As the judge of the people is himself, so are his officers; and what
manner of man the ruler of the city is, such are all they that dwell
therein.
10:3 An unwise king destroyeth his people; but through the prudence of them
which are in authority the city shall be inhabited.
10:4 The power of the earth is in the hand of the Lord, and in due time he
will set over it one that is profitable.
10:5 In the hand of God is the prosperity of man: and upon the person of the
scribe shall he lay his honour.
10:6 Bear not hatred to thy neighbour for every wrong; and do nothing at all
by injurious practices.
10:7 Pride is hateful before God and man: and by both doth one commit
iniquity.
10:8 Because of unrighteous dealings, injuries, and riches got by deceit, the
kingdom is translated from one people to another.
10:9 Why is earth and ashes proud? There is not a more wicked thing than a
covetous man: for such an one setteth his own soul to sale; because
while he liveth he casteth away his bowels.
10:10 The physician cutteth off a long disease; and he that is to day a king
to morrow shall die.
10:11 For when a man is dead, he shall inherit creeping things, beasts, and
worms.
10:12 The beginning of pride is when one departeth from God, and his heart is
turned away from his Maker.
10:13 For pride is the beginning of sin, and he that hath it shall pour out
abomination: and therefore the Lord brought upon them strange
calamities, and overthrew them utterly.
10:14 The Lord hath cast down the thrones of proud princes, and set up the
meek in their stead.
10:15 The Lord hath plucked up the roots of the proud nations, and planted the
lowly in their place.
10:16 The Lord overthrew countries of the heathen, and destroyed them to the
foundations of the earth.
10:17 He took some of them away, and destroyed them, and hath made their
memorial to cease from the earth.
10:18 Pride was not made for men, nor furious anger for them that are born of
a woman.
10:19 They that fear the Lord are a sure seed, and they that love him an
honourable plant: they that regard not the law are a dishonourable seed;
they that transgress the commandments are a deceivable seed.
10:20 Among brethren he that is chief is honorable; so are they that fear the
Lord in his eyes.
10:21 The fear of the Lord goeth before the obtaining of authority: but
roughness and pride is the losing thereof.
10:22 Whether he be rich, noble, or poor, their glory is the fear of the Lord.
10:23 It is not meet to despise the poor man that hath understanding; neither
is it convenient to magnify a sinful man.
10:24 Great men, and judges, and potentates, shall be honoured; yet is there
none of them greater than he that feareth the Lord.
10:25 Unto the servant that is wise shall they that are free do service: and
he that hath knowledge will not grudge when he is reformed.
10:26 Be not overwise in doing thy business; and boast not thyself in the time
of thy distress.
10:27 Better is he that laboureth, and aboundeth in all things, than he that
boasteth himself, and wanteth bread.
10:28 My son, glorify thy soul in meekness, and give it honour according to
the dignity thereof.
10:29 Who will justify him that sinneth against his own soul? and who will
honour him that dishonoureth his own life?
10:30 The poor man is honoured for his skill, and the rich man is honoured for
his riches.
10:31 He that is honoured in poverty, how much more in riches? and he that is
dishonourable in riches, how much more in poverty?
