Sirach 10:12-18

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

¹² The beginning of human pride is to forsake the Lord;
    the heart has withdrawn from its Maker.^(A)
13 For the beginning of pride is sin,
    and the one who clings to it pours out abominations.
Therefore the Lord brought upon them unheard-of calamities
    and destroyed them completely.^[a]
14 The Lord overthrew the thrones of rulers
    and enthroned the lowly in their place.^(B)
15 The Lord plucked up the roots of the nations^[b]
    and planted the humble in their place.
¹⁶ The Lord laid waste the lands of the nations
    and destroyed them to the foundations of the earth.^(C)
17 He removed some of them and destroyed them
    and erased the memory of them from the earth.^(D)
18 Pride was not created for human beings
    or violent anger for those born of women.