Sirach

1A wise judge will instruct his people; And the government of a man of understanding shall be well ordered.

2As is the judge of his people, so are his ministers; And as is the ruler of the city, such are all they that dwell therein.

3An uninstructed king will destroy his people; And a city will be established through the understanding of the powerful.

4In the hand of the Lord is the authority of the earth; And in due time he will raise up over it one that is profitable.

5In the hand of the Lord is the prosperity of a man; And upon the person of the scribe shall he lay his honor.

6Be not angry with your neighbor for every wrong; And do nothing by works of violence.

7Pride is hateful before the Lord and before men; And in the judgement of both will unrighteousness err.

8Sovereignty is transferred from nation to nation, Because of iniquities, and deeds of violence, and greed of money.

9Why is earth and ashes proud? Because in his life he has cast away his bowels.

10It is a long disease; the physician mocketh: And he is a king today, and tomorrow he shall die.

11For when a man is dead, He shall inherit creeping things, and beasts, and worms.

12It is the beginning of pride when a man departs from the Lord; And his heart is departed from him that made him.

13For the beginning of pride is sin; And he that keeps it will pour forth abomination. For this cause the Lord brought upon them strange calamities, And overthrew them utterly.

14The Lord cast down the thrones of rulers, And set the meek in their stead.

15The Lord plucked up the roots of nations, And planted the lowly in their stead.

16The Lord overthrew the lands of nations, And destroyed them to the foundations of the earth.

17He took some of them away, and destroyed them, And made their memorial to cease from the earth.

18Pride has not been created for men, Nor wrathful anger for the offspring of women.

19What manner of seed has honor? the seed of man. What manner of seed has honor? they that fear the Lord. What manner of seed has no honor? the seed of man. What manner of seed has no honor? they that transgress the commandments.

20In the midst of brethren he that rules them has honor; And in the eyes of the Lord they that fear him.

22The rich man, and the honorable, and the poor, Their glorying is the fear of the Lord.

23It is not right to dishonor a poor man that has understanding; And it is not fitting to glorify a man that is a sinner.

24The great man, and the judge, and the mighty man, shall be glorified; And there is not one of them greater than he that fears the Lord.

25Free men shall minister to a wise servant; And a man that has knowledge will not murmur thereat.

26Be not over wise in doing your work; And glorify not yourself in the time of your distress.

27Better is he that labores, and abounds in all things, Than he that glorifieth himself, and lacketh bread.

28My son, glorify your soul in meekness, And give it honor according to the worthiness thereof.

29Who will justify him that sins against his own soul? And who will glorify him that dishonors his own life?

30A poor man is glorified for his knowledge; And a rich man is glorified for his riches.

31But he that is glorified in poverty, how much more in riches? And he that is inglorious in riches, how much more in poverty?