Sirach 10
1 A wise judge will instruct his
people; and the government of a prudent man is well ordered.
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.
3 An unwise king destroyeth his
people; but through the prudence of them which are in authority the city shall
be inhabited. 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. 5 In the hand of God is
the prosperity of man: and upon the person of the scribe shall he lay his
honour.
6 Bear not hatred to thy neighbour for
every wrong; and do nothing at all by injurious practices.
7 Pride is hateful before God and man:
and by both doth one commit iniquity.
8 Because of unrighteous dealings,
injuries, and riches got by deceit, the kingdom is translated from one people
to another.
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 The physician cutteth off a long
disease: and he that is to day a king to morrow shall die.
11 For when a man is dead, he shall
inherit creeping things, beasts, and worms.
12 The beginning of pride is when one
departeth from God, and his heart is turned away from his Maker.
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.
14 The Lord hath cast down the
thrones of proud princes, and set up the meek in their stead.
15 The Lord hath plucked up the roots
of the proud nations, and planted the lowly in their place.
16 The Lord overthrew countries of
the heathen, and destroyed them to the foundations of the earth.
17 He took some of them away, and
destroyed them, and hath made their memorial to cease from the earth.
18 Pride was not made for men, nor
furious anger for them that are born of a woman.
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. 20 Among brethren he
that is chief is honourable; so are they that fear the Lord in his eyes.
22 Whether he be rich, noble or poor,
their glory is the fear of the Lord.
23 It is not meet to despise the poor
man that hath understanding; neither is it convenient to magnify a sinful man.
24 Great men, and judges, and
potentates, shall be honoured; yet is there none of them greater than he that
feareth the Lord. 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.
26 Be not overwise in doing thy
business; and boast not thyself in the time of thy distress.
27 Better is he that laboureth, and
aboundeth in all things, than he that boasteth himself, and wanteth bread.
28 My son, glorify thy soul in
meekness, and give it honour according to the dignity thereof.
29 Who will justify him that sinneth
against his own soul? and who will honour him that dishonoureth his own life?
30 The poor man is honoured for his
skill, and the rich man is honoured for his riches.
31 He that is honoured in poverty,
how much more in riches? and he that is dishonourable in riches, how much more
in poverty?