Sirach 11
1 Wisdom lifteth up the head of him
that is of low degree, and maketh him to sit among great men.
2 Commend not a man for his beauty;
neither abhor a man for his outward appearance.
3 The bee is little among such as fly;
but her fruit is the chief of sweet things.
4 Boast not of thy clothing and
raiment, and exalt not thyself in the day of honour: for the works of the Lord
are wonderful, and his works among men are hidden.
5 Many kings have sat down upon the
ground; and one that was never thought of hath worn the crown.
6 Many mighty men have been greatly
disgraced; and the honourable delivered into other men's hands.
7 Blame not before thou hast examined
the truth: understand first, and then rebuke.
8 Answer not before thou hast heard
the cause: neither interrupt men in the midst of their talk.
9 Strive not in a matter that
concerneth thee not; and sit not in judgment with sinners.
10 My son, meddle not with many
matters: for if thou meddle much, thou shalt not be innocent; and if thou
follow after, thou shalt not obtain, neither shalt thou escape by fleeing.
11 There is one that laboureth, and
taketh pains, and maketh haste, and is so much the more behind.
12 Again, there is another that is
slow, and hath need of help, wanting ability, and full of poverty; yet the eye
of the Lord looked upon him for good, and set him up from his low estate,
13 and lifted up his head from
misery; so that many that saw it marvelled at him.
14 Prosperity and adversity, life and
death, poverty and riches, come of the Lord.
17 The gift of the Lord remaineth
with the godly, and his favour bringeth prosperity for ever.
18 There is that waxeth rich by his
wariness and pinching, and this is the portion of his reward:
19 whereas he saith, I have found
rest, and now will eat continually of my goods; and
yet he knoweth not what time shall come upon him, and
that he must leave those things to others, and die.
20 Be stedfast in thy covenant, and
be conversant therein, and wax old in thy work.
21 Marvel not at the works of
sinners; but trust in the Lord, and abide in thy labour: for it is an easy
thing in the sight of the Lord on the sudden to make a poor man rich.
22 The blessing of the Lord is in the
reward of the godly, and suddenly he maketh his blessing to flourish.
23 Say not, What profit is there of
my service? and what good things shall I have hereafter?
24 Again, say not, I have enough, and
possess many things, and what evil can come to me hereafter?
25 In the day of prosperity there is
a forgetfulness of affliction: and in the day of affliction there is no more
remembrance of prosperity. 26 For it
is an easy thing unto the Lord in the day of death to reward a man according
to his ways. 27 The affliction of an
hour maketh a man forget pleasure: and in his end his deeds shall be
discovered. 28 Judge none blessed
before his death: for a man shall be known in his children.
29 Bring not every man into thine
house: for the deceitful man hath many trains.
30 Like as a partridge taken [and
kept] in a cage, so is the heart of the proud: and like as a spy, watcheth he
for thy fall: 31 for he lieth in
wait, and turneth good into evil, and in things worthy praise will lay blame
upon thee. 32 Of a spark of fire a
heap of coals is kindled: and a sinful man layeth wait for blood.
33 Take heed of a mischievous man,
for he worketh wickedness: lest he bring upon thee a perpetual blot.
34 Receive a stranger into thine
house, and he will disturb thee, and turn thee out of thine own.