Sirach 10
Good News Translation
10 1 A wise ruler will educate his people, and his government will be orderly. 2 All the officials and all the citizens will be like their ruler. 3 An uneducated king will ruin his people, but a government will grow strong if its rulers are wise. 4 The Lord sees to the government of the world and brings the right person to power at the right time. 5 The success of that person is in the Lord's hands. The Lord is the source of the honor given to any official.
Pride
6 Don't be angry with someone for every little thing he does wrong. Don't do anything out of injured pride. 7 Arrogance and injustice are hated by both the Lord and people. 8 Injustice, arrogance, and wealth cause nations to fall from power, and others then rise to take their place. 9 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
- Sirach 10:9 Our body...alive; this sentence in both Greek and Hebrew is unclear.
- Sirach 10:10 A long...doctor; this sentence in both Greek and Hebrew is unclear.
- Sirach 10:20 Some manuscripts add verse 21: Success begins with fear of the Lord, but failure begins with stubbornness and arrogance.
Sirach 10
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
10 A wise magistrate educates his people,
and the rule of an intelligent person is well ordered.
2 As the people’s judge is, so are his officials;
as the ruler of the city is, so are all its inhabitants.(A)
3 An undisciplined king ruins his people,
but a city becomes fit to live in through the understanding of its rulers.(B)
4 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)
5 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
6 Do not get angry with your neighbor for every injury,
and do not resort to acts of insolence.(E)
7 Arrogance is hateful to the Lord and to mortals,
and injustice is outrageous to both.(F)
8 Sovereignty passes from nation to nation
on account of injustice and insolence and wealth.[b](G)
9 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
- 10.5 Heb: Gk scribe
- 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.
- 10.9 Heb: Meaning of Gk uncertain
- 10.11 Heb: Gk wild animals
- 10.13 Gk: Heb brings upon them . . . destroys them
- 10.15 Other ancient authorities read proud nations
- 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.
- 10.22 Heb: Gk The rich and the eminent
- 10.29 Heb: Gk sin against
- 10.29 Heb Lat: Gk their own life
Ben Sira 10
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 10
1 A wise magistrate gives stability to his people,
and government by the intelligent is well ordered.(A)
2 As the people’s judge, so the officials;(B)
as the head of a city, so the inhabitants.
3 A reckless king destroys his people,
but a city grows through the intelligence of its princes.(C)
4 Sovereignty over the earth is in the hand of God,
who appoints the right person for the right time.
5 Sovereignty over everyone is in the hand of God,
who imparts his majesty to the ruler.
The Sin of Pride
6 No matter what the wrong, never harm your neighbor
or go the way of arrogance.(D)
7 Odious to the Lord and to mortals is pride,
and for both oppression is a crime.
8 Sovereignty is transferred from one people to another
because of the lawlessness of the proud.
9 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Sirach 10
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised
10 A wise magistrate educates his people,
and the rule of an intelligent person is well ordered.
2 As the people’s judge is, so are his officials;
as the ruler of the city is, so are all its inhabitants.
3 An undisciplined king ruins his people,
but a city becomes fit to live in through the understanding of its rulers.
4 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.
5 Human success is in the hand of the Lord,
and it is he who confers honour upon the lawgiver.[a]
The Sin of Pride
6 Do not get angry with your neighbour for every injury,
and do not resort to acts of insolence.
7 Arrogance is hateful to the Lord and to mortals,
and injustice is outrageous to both.
8 Sovereignty passes from nation to nation
on account of injustice and insolence and wealth.[b]
9 How can dust and ashes be proud?
Even in life the human body decays.[c]
10 A long illness baffles the physician;[d]
the king of today will die tomorrow.
11 For when one is dead
he inherits maggots and vermin[e] and worms.
12 The beginning of human pride is to forsake the Lord;
the heart has withdrawn from its Maker.
13 For the beginning of pride is sin,
and the one who clings to it pours out abominations.
Therefore the Lord brings upon them unheard-of calamities,
and destroys them completely.
14 The Lord overthrows the thrones of rulers,
and enthrones the lowly in their place.
15 The Lord plucks up the roots of the nations,[f]
and plants the humble in their place.
16 The Lord lays waste the lands of the nations,
and destroys them to the foundations of the earth.
17 He removes some of them and destroys them,
and erases the memory of them from the earth.
18 Pride was not created for human beings,
or violent anger for those born of women.
Persons Deserving Honour
19 Whose offspring are worthy of honour?
Human offspring.
Whose offspring are worthy of honour?
Those who fear the Lord.
Whose offspring are unworthy of honour?
Human offspring.
Whose offspring are unworthy of honour?
Those who break the commandments.
20 Among family members their leader is worthy of honour,
but those who fear the Lord are worthy of honour in his eyes.[g]
22 The rich, and the eminent, and the poor—
their glory is the fear of the Lord.
23 It is not right to despise one who is intelligent but poor,
and it is not proper to honour one who is sinful.
24 The prince and the judge and the ruler are honoured,
but none of them is greater than one who fears the Lord.
25 Free citizens will serve a wise servant,
and an intelligent person will not complain.
Concerning Humility
26 Do not make a display of your wisdom when you do your work,
and do not boast when you are in need.
27 Better is the worker who has goods in plenty
than the boaster who lacks bread.
28 My child, honour yourself with humility,
and give yourself the esteem you deserve.
29 Who will acquit those who condemn[h] themselves?
And who will honour those who dishonour themselves?[i]
30 The poor are honoured for their knowledge,
while the rich are honoured for their wealth.
31 One who is honoured in poverty, how much more in wealth!
And one dishonoured in wealth, how much more in poverty!
Footnotes
- Sirach 10:5 Heb: Gk scribe
- Sirach 10:8 Other ancient authorities add here or after verse 9a, Nothing is more wicked than one who loves money, for such a person puts his own soul up for sale.
- Sirach 10:9 Heb: Meaning of Gk uncertain
- Sirach 10:10 Heb Lat: Meaning of Gk uncertain
- Sirach 10:11 Heb: Gk wild animals
- Sirach 10:15 Other ancient authorities read proud nations
- Sirach 10:20 Other ancient authorities add as verse 21, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of acceptance; obduracy and pride are the beginning of rejection.
- Sirach 10:29 Heb: Gk sin against
- Sirach 10:29 Heb Lat: Gk their own life
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