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The Book of Jesus Sirach

⭑ World English Bible Catholic :: King James Version ⭑

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- Chapter 10 -

The virtues and vices of men in power: the great evil of pride.

1
A wise judge will instruct his people. The government of a man of understanding will be well ordered.
2
As is the judge of his people, so are his officials. As the city’s ruler is, so are all those who dwell in it.
3
An undisciplined king will destroy his people. A city will be established through the understanding of the powerful.
4
The government of the earth is in the Lord’s hand. In due time, he will raise up over it the right person at the right time.
5
A man’s prosperity is in the Lord’s hand. He will lay his honor upon the person of the scribe.
6
Don’t be angry with your neighbor for every wrong. Do nothing by works of violence.
7
Pride is hateful before the Lord and men. Arrogance is abhorrent in the judgment of both.
8
Sovereignty is transferred from nation to nation because of injustice, violence, and greed for money.
9
Why are dirt and ashes proud?(a) Because in life, my body decays.
10
A long disease mocks the physician. The king of today will die tomorrow.
11
For when a man is dead, he will inherit maggots, vermin, and worms.
12
It is the beginning of pride when a man departs from the Lord. His heart has departed from him who made him.
13
For the beginning of pride is sin. He who keeps it will pour out abomination. For this cause the Lord brought upon them strange calamities and utterly overthrew them.
14
The Lord cast down the thrones of rulers and set the lowly in their place.
15
The Lord plucked up the roots of nations and planted the lowly in their place.
16
The Lord overthrew the lands of nations and destroyed them to the foundations of the earth.
17
He took some of them away and destroyed them, and made their memory to cease from the earth.
18
Pride has not been created for men, nor wrathful anger for the offspring of women.
19
Whose offspring has honor? Human offspring who fear the Lord. Whose offspring has no honor? Human offspring who break the commandments.
20
In the midst of kindred he who rules them has honor. Those who fear the Lord have honor in his eyes.
21
(b)
22
The rich man, the honorable, and the poor all glory in the fear of the Lord.
23
It is not right to dishonor a poor man who has understanding. It is not fitting to glorify a man who is a sinner.
24
The prince, the judge, and the mighty man will be honored. There is not one of them greater than he who fears the Lord.
25
Free men will minister to a wise servant. A man who has knowledge will not complain.
26
Don’t flaunt your wisdom in doing your work. Don’t boast in the time of your distress.
27
Better is he who labors and abounds in all things, than he who boasts and lacks bread.
28
My son, glorify your soul in humility, and ascribe to yourself honor according to your worthiness.
29
Who will justify him who sins against his own soul? Who will honor him who dishonors his own life?
30
A poor man is honored for his knowledge. A rich man is honored for his riches.
31
But he who is honored in poverty, how much more in riches? He who is dishonored in riches, how much more in poverty?

Footnotes

(a)10:9 Two lines of this verse are here omitted by the best authorities.
(b)10:21 Verse 21 is omitted by the best authorities: Fear of the Lord is the beginning of acceptance, but obstinance and pride are the beginning of rejection.

The virtues and vices of men in power: the great evil of pride.

1
A wise judge will instruct his people; and the government of a prudent man is well ordered.
2
As the judge of the people is himself, so are his officers; and what manner of man the ruler of the city is, such are all they that dwell therein.
3
An unwise king destroyeth his people; but through the prudence of them which are in authority the city shall be inhabited.
4
The power of the earth is in the hand of the Lord, and in due time he will set over it one that is profitable.
5
In the hand of God is the prosperity of man: and upon the person of the scribe shall he lay his honour.
6
Bear not hatred to thy neighbour for every wrong; and do nothing at all by injurious practices.
7
Pride is hateful before God and man: and by both doth one commit iniquity.
8
Because of unrighteous dealings, injuries, and riches got by deceit, the kingdom is translated from one people to another.
9
Why is earth and ashes proud? There is not a more wicked thing than a covetous man: for such an one setteth his own soul to sale; because while he liveth he casteth away his bowels.
10
The physician cutteth off a long disease; and he that is to day a king to morrow shall die.
11
For when a man is dead, he shall inherit creeping things, beasts, and worms.
12
The beginning of pride is when one departeth from God, and his heart is turned away from his Maker.
13
For pride is the beginning of sin, and he that hath it shall pour out abomination: and therefore the Lord brought upon them strange calamities, and overthrew them utterly.
14
The Lord hath cast down the thrones of proud princes, and set up the meek in their stead.
15
The Lord hath plucked up the roots of the proud nations, and planted the lowly in their place.
16
The Lord overthrew countries of the heathen, and destroyed them to the foundations of the earth.
17
He took some of them away, and destroyed them, and hath made their memorial to cease from the earth.
18
Pride was not made for men, nor furious anger for them that are born of a woman.
19
They that fear the Lord are a sure seed, and they that love him an honourable plant: they that regard not the law are a dishonourable seed; they that transgress the commandments are a deceivable seed.
20
Among brethren he that is chief is honorable; so are they that fear the Lord in his eyes.
21
The fear of the Lord goeth before the obtaining of authority: but roughness and pride is the losing thereof.
22
Whether he be rich, noble, or poor, their glory is the fear of the Lord.
23
It is not meet to despise the poor man that hath understanding; neither is it convenient to magnify a sinful man.
24
Great men, and judges, and potentates, shall be honoured; yet is there none of them greater than he that feareth the Lord.
25
Unto the servant that is wise shall they that are free do service: and he that hath knowledge will not grudge when he is reformed.
26
Be not overwise in doing thy business; and boast not thyself in the time of thy distress.
27
Better is he that laboureth, and aboundeth in all things, than he that boasteth himself, and wanteth bread.
28
My son, glorify thy soul in meekness, and give it honour according to the dignity thereof.
29
Who will justify him that sinneth against his own soul? and who will honour him that dishonoureth his own life?
30
The poor man is honoured for his skill, and the rich man is honoured for his riches.
31
He that is honoured in poverty, how much more in riches? and he that is dishonourable in riches, how much more in poverty?
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