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10 A wise ruler will educate his people, and his government will be orderly. All the officials and all the citizens will be like their ruler. An uneducated king will ruin his people, but a government will grow strong if its rulers are wise. The Lord sees to the government of the world and brings the right person to power at the right time. The success of that person is in the Lord's hands. The Lord is the source of the honor given to any official.

Pride

Don't be angry with someone for every little thing he does wrong. Don't do anything out of injured pride. Arrogance and injustice are hated by both the Lord and people. Injustice, arrogance, and wealth cause nations to fall from power, and others then rise to take their place. We are only dust and ashes; what have we got to be proud of Our body decays even while we are alive.[a] 10 A long illness puzzles the doctor.[b] Even a king may be alive today and dead tomorrow. 11 When a person dies, all he then possesses is worms, flies, and maggots.

12 Pride has its beginning when a person abandons the Lord, his maker. 13 Pride is like a fountain pouring out sin, and whoever persists in it will be full of wickedness. That is why the Lord brought terrible punishments on some people and completely destroyed them. 14 (A)The Lord has overthrown kings and put humbler people in their place. 15 The Lord has pulled up nations by the roots and established humbler ones in their place. 16 The Lord has overthrown empires and completely devastated their lands. 17 He destroyed some so completely that they are not even remembered any more. 18 The Creator never intended for human beings to be arrogant and violent.

People Who Should Be Honored

19 Who deserves honor? The human race does, because people fear the Lord. Who does not deserve honor? The human race does not, because people break the Lord's commands. 20 A leader should be honored by those who follow him, and the Lord honors those who fear him.[c]

22 Rich people, famous people, and poor people all take pride in their fear of the Lord. 23 It is not right to refuse honor to a poor person who is intelligent, and it is not right to give honor to a sinner. 24 People of influence, rulers, and judges will be honored, but none of them is greater than a person who fears the Lord. 25 A slave who is wise will have free citizens serving him; and if they are sensible, they will not resent it.

Humility and Self-respect

26 When you do your work, don't make a show of your skill, and don't try to put on a show when you are in trouble. 27 It is better to work and have more than you need than to go around boasting but hungry.

28 My child, keep your self-respect, but remain modest. Value yourself at your true worth. 29 There is no excuse for a person to run himself down. No one respects a person who has no respect for himself. 30 Poor people can be honored for their good sense, and rich people can be honored for their wealth. 31 If someone is honored while he is poor, think how much he will be honored if he becomes rich! If someone is despised while he is rich, think how much more he will be despised if he becomes poor!

Footnotes

  1. Sirach 10:9 Our body...alive; this sentence in both Greek and Hebrew is unclear.
  2. Sirach 10:10 A long...doctor; this sentence in both Greek and Hebrew is unclear.
  3. Sirach 10:20 Some manuscripts add verse 21: Success begins with fear of the Lord, but failure begins with stubbornness and arrogance.

10 A wise magistrate educates his people,
    and the rule of an intelligent person is well ordered.
As the people’s judge is, so are his officials;
    as the ruler of the city is, so are all its inhabitants.(A)
An undisciplined king ruins his people,
    but a city becomes fit to live in through the understanding of its rulers.(B)
The government of the earth is in the hand of the Lord,
    and over it he will raise up the right leader for the time.(C)
Human success is in the hand of the Lord,
    and it is he who confers honor upon the lawgiver.[a](D)

The Sin of Pride

Do not get angry with your neighbor for every injury,
    and do not resort to acts of insolence.(E)
Arrogance is hateful to the Lord and to mortals,
    and injustice is outrageous to both.(F)
Sovereignty passes from nation to nation
    on account of injustice and insolence and wealth.[b](G)
How can dust and ashes be proud?
    Even in life the human body is infested with worms.[c](H)
10 A long illness mocks the physician;
    the king of today will die tomorrow.(I)
11 For when humans die
    they inherit maggots and vermin[d] and worms.(J)
12 The beginning of human pride is to forsake the Lord;
    the heart has withdrawn from its Maker.(K)
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.[e]
14 The Lord overthrew the thrones of rulers
    and enthroned the lowly in their place.(L)
15 The Lord plucked up the roots of the nations[f]
    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.(M)
17 He removed some of them and destroyed them
    and erased the memory of them from the earth.(N)
18 Pride was not created for human beings
    or violent anger for those born of women.

Persons Deserving Honor

19 Whose offspring are worthy of honor?
    Human offspring.
Whose offspring are worthy of honor?
    Those who fear the Lord.
Whose offspring are unworthy of honor?
    Human offspring.
Whose offspring are unworthy of honor?
    Those who break the commandments.(O)
20 Among family members their leader is worthy of honor,
    but those who fear the Lord are worthy of honor in his eyes.[g]
22 The guest and the stranger[h] and the poor—
    their boast is the fear of the Lord.(P)
23 It is not right to despise one who is intelligent but poor,
    and it is not proper to honor one who is sinful.(Q)
24 The prince and the judge and the ruler are honored,
    but none of them is greater than the one who fears the Lord.(R)
25 Free people will serve a wise slave,
    and an intelligent person will not complain.(S)

Concerning Humility

26 Do not make a display of your wisdom when you do your work,
    and do not extol yourself when you are in difficulty.
27 Better those who work and have plenty
    than those who boast and lack bread.(T)

28 My child, honor yourself with humility,
    and give yourself the esteem you deserve.(U)
29 Who will acquit those who condemn[i] themselves,
    and who will honor those who dishonor themselves?[j]
30 The poor are honored for their knowledge,
    while the rich are honored for their wealth.
31 One who is honored in poverty, how much more in wealth!
    And one dishonored in wealth, how much more in poverty!

Footnotes

  1. 10.5 Heb: Gk scribe
  2. 10.8 Other ancient authorities add here or after 10.9a: Nothing is more wicked than one who loves money, for such a person puts his own soul up for sale.
  3. 10.9 Heb: Meaning of Gk uncertain
  4. 10.11 Heb: Gk wild animals
  5. 10.13 Gk: Heb brings upon them . . . destroys them
  6. 10.15 Other ancient authorities read proud nations
  7. 10.20 Other ancient authorities add as 10.21: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of acceptance; obduracy and pride are the beginning of rejection.
  8. 10.22 Heb: Gk The rich and the eminent
  9. 10.29 Heb: Gk sin against
  10. 10.29 Heb Lat: Gk their own life

Chapter 10

A wise magistrate gives stability to his people,
    and government by the intelligent is well ordered.(A)
As the people’s judge, so the officials;(B)
    as the head of a city, so the inhabitants.
A reckless king destroys his people,
    but a city grows through the intelligence of its princes.(C)
Sovereignty over the earth is in the hand of God,
    who appoints the right person for the right time.
Sovereignty over everyone is in the hand of God,
    who imparts his majesty to the ruler.

The Sin of Pride

No matter what the wrong, never harm your neighbor
    or go the way of arrogance.(D)
Odious to the Lord and to mortals is pride,
    and for both oppression is a crime.
Sovereignty is transferred from one people to another
    because of the lawlessness of the proud.
Why are dust and ashes proud?[a]
    Even during life the body decays.
10 A slight illness—the doctor jests;
    a king today—tomorrow he is dead.
11 When a people die,
    they inherit corruption and worms, gnats and maggots.(E)

12 The beginning of pride is stubbornness
    in withdrawing the heart from one’s Maker.
13 For sin is a reservoir of insolence,
    a source which runs over with vice;
Because of it God sends unheard-of afflictions
    and strikes people with utter ruin.(F)
14 God overturns the thrones of the proud
    and enthrones the lowly in their place.
15 God plucks up the roots of the proud,
    and plants the lowly in their place.
16 The Lord lays waste the lands of the nations,
    and destroys them to the very foundations of the earth.
17 He removes them from the earth, destroying them,
    erasing their memory from the world.
18 Insolence does not befit mortals,
    nor impudent anger those born of women.

True Glory[b]

19 Whose offspring can be honorable? Human offspring.
    Those who fear the Lord are honorable offspring.
Whose offspring can be disgraceful? Human offspring.
    Those who transgress the commandment are disgraceful offspring.
20 Among relatives their leader is honored;
    but whoever fears God is honored among God’s people.[c]
22 Resident alien, stranger, foreigner, pauper—
    their glory is the fear of the Lord.
23 It is not right to despise anyone wise but poor,
    nor proper to honor the lawless.(G)

24 The prince, the ruler, the judge are in honor;
    but none is greater than the one who fears God.
25 When the free serve a wise slave,
    the wise will not complain.(H)
26 Do not flaunt your wisdom in managing your affairs,
    or boast in your time of need.
27 Better the worker who has goods in plenty
    than the boaster who has no food.(I)

28 My son, with humility have self-esteem;
    and give yourself the esteem you deserve.
29 Who will acquit those who condemn themselves?
    Who will honor those who disgrace themselves?

30 The poor are honored for their wisdom;
    the rich are honored for their wealth.
31 Honored in poverty, how much more so in wealth!
    Disgraced in wealth, in poverty how much the more!

Footnotes

  1. 10:9–10 The general implication is that a slight illness today may be followed by death tomorrow. The uncertainty of life leaves no room for pride.
  2. 10:19–11:6 Genuine honor comes not from one’s place in society but from fear of the Lord and a true estimate of oneself. The Lord exalts the lowly and oppressed; transgressors of the commandment merit dishonor and disgrace.
  3. 10:20

    Other ancient texts read as v. 21:

    The beginning of acceptance is the fear of the Lord;

    the beginning of rejection, effrontery and pride.

10 A wise judge shall judge his people, and the government of a prudent man shall be steady.

As the judge of the people is himself, so also are his ministers: and what manner of man the ruler of a city is, such also are they that dwell therein.

An unwise king shall be the ruin of his people: and cities shall be inhabited through the prudence of the rulers.

The power of the earth is in the hand of God, and in his time he will raise up a profitable ruler over it.

The prosperity of man is in the hand of God, and upon the person of the scribe he shall lay his honour.

Remember not any injury done thee by thy neighbour, and do thou nothing by deeds of injury.

Pride is hateful before God and men: and all iniquity of nations is execrable.

A kingdom is translated from one people to another, because of injustices, and wrongs, and injuries, and divers deceits.

But nothing is more wicked than the covetous man. Why is earth and ashes proud?

10 There is not a more wicked thing than to love money: for such a one setteth even his own soul to sale: because while he liveth he hath cast away his bowels.

11 All power is of short life. A long sickness is troublesome to the physician.

12 The physician cutteth off a short sickness: so also a king is to day, and to morrow he shall die.

13 For when a man shall die, he shall inherit serpents, and beasts, and worms.

14 The beginning of the pride of man, is to fall off from God:

15 Because his heart is departed from him that made him: for pride is the beginning of all sin: he that holdeth it, shall be filled with maledictions, and it shall ruin him in the end.

16 Therefore hath the Lord disgraced the assemblies of the wicked, and hath utterly destroyed them.

17 God hath overturned the thrones of proud princes, and hath set up the meek in their stead.

18 God hath made the roots of proud nations to wither, and hath planted the humble of these nations.

19 The Lord hath overthrown the lands of the Gentiles, and hath destroyed them even to the foundation.

20 He hath made some of them to wither away, and hath destroyed them, and hath made the memory of them to cease from the earth.

21 God hath abolished the memory of the proud, and hath preserved the memory of them that are humble in mind.

22 Pride was not made for men: nor wrath for the race of women.

23 That seed of men shall be honoured, which feareth God: but that seed shall be dishonoured, which transgresseth the commandments of the Lord.

24 In the midst of brethren their chief is honourable: so shall they that fear the Lord, be in his eyes.

25 The fear of God is the glory of the rich, and of the honourable, and of the poor:

26 Despise not a just man that is poor, and do not magnify a sinful man that is rich.

27 The great man, and the judge, and the mighty is in honour: and there is none greater than he that feareth God.

28 They that are free shall serve a servant that is wise: and a man that is prudent and well instructed will not murmur when he is reproved; and he that is ignorant, shall not be honoured.

29 Extol not thyself in doing thy work, and linger not in the time of distress:

30 Better is he that laboureth, and aboundeth in all things, than he that boasteth himself and wanteth bread.

31 My son, keep thy soul in meekness, and give it honour according to its desert.

32 Who will justify him that sinneth against his own soul? and who will honour him that dishonoureth his own soul?

33 The poor man is glorified by his discipline and fear: and there is a man that is honoured for his wealth.

34 But he that is glorified in poverty, how much more in wealth? and he that is glorified in wealth, let him fear poverty.