Sirach 10:19-25

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

Persons Deserving Honor

¹⁹What 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.
²⁰Among brothers their leader is worthy of honor,
    and those who fear the Lord are worthy of honor in his eyes.^[a]
²²The rich, and the eminent, and the poor—
    their glory is the fear of the Lord.
²³It is not right to despise an intelligent poor man,
    nor is it proper to honor a sinful man.
²⁴The nobleman, and the judge, and the ruler will be honored,
    but none of them is greater than the man who fears the Lord.
²⁵Free men will be at the service of a wise servant,
    and a man of understanding will not grumble.

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Footnotes

Sirach 10:20 Other authorities add as verse 21, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of acceptance; obduracy and pride are the beginning of rejection.

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

The Revised Standard Version of the Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1965, 1966 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.