Sirach 10:12-20

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

¹² The beginning of man’s pride is to depart from the Lord;
    his heart has forsaken his Maker.
¹³ For the beginning of pride is sin,
    and the man who clings to it pours out abominations.
Therefore the Lord brought upon them extraordinary afflictions,
    and destroyed them utterly.
¹⁴ The Lord has cast down the thrones of rulers,
    and has seated the lowly in their place.
¹⁵ The Lord has plucked up the roots of the nations,^[a]
    and has planted the humble in their place.
¹⁶ The Lord has overthrown the lands of the nations,
    and has destroyed them to the foundations of the earth.
¹⁷ He has removed some of them and destroyed them,
    and has extinguished the memory of them from the earth.
¹⁸ Pride was not created for men,
    nor fierce anger for those born of women.

¹⁹ What race is worthy of honor?
The human race.
    What race is worthy of honor?
    Those who fear the Lord.
What race is unworthy of honor?
The human race.
    What race is unworthy of honor?
    Those who transgress the commandments.
²⁰ Among brothers their leader is worthy of honor,
    and those who fear the Lord are worthy of honor in his eyes.^[b]