Sirach 10

10A wise governorinstructeth his people;

And the rule of one that is discerning is well-ordered.

As is the governor of a people, so are his officers;

And as is the head of a city, are its inhabitants.

A reckless king ruineth his people,

But a city becometh populous through the prudence of its princes.

The rule over the world is in the hands of God,

And at the right time He setteth over it one that is worthy.

In the hand of God is the rule of every man,

And He investeth the commander with his dignity.

Requite not ^[evil to^[ thy neighbour for any wrong,

And walk not in the way of pride.

Pride is hateful to the Lord and to men,

And before both oppression is an offence.

Sovereignty is transferred from nation to nation

On account of the violence of pride.

How should he that is dust and ashes vaunt himself,

He whose entrails rot ⁽even⁽ during his life?

A suspicion ⁽?⁽ of disease defieth ⁽?⁽ the physician—

To-day a king, and to-morrow he shall fall!

When a man dieth he inheriteth

Worm and maggot, lice and creeping things.

The beginning of pride is when a man becometh shameless,

And his heart departeth from his Maker.

For sin is the rallying-place of insolence,

And its source overfloweth with depravity.

For this cause hath God stricken such an one marvellously,

And smitten him to the uttermost.

The throne of the proud God overthroweth,

And setteth the humble in their place.

The roots of the proud God ,

And extirpateth them to the foundations of the earth.

He teareth them out of the earthand rooteth them up,

And extinguisheth their memory from among men.

Insolence was not the heritage of man,

Nor savage wrath ⁽apportioned⁽ to the earth-born.

An honourable race is what? The race of men!

An honourable race is that which feareth God.

A despicable race is what? The race of men!

A despicable race is that which transgresseth the commandment.

Among brethren their head is honoured,

And he that feareth God among his own people.

Sojourner and stranger, alien and poor man—

Their glory is the fear of God.

A poor man that hath understanding is not to be despised,

Nor is any man of violence to be honoured.

Prince, ruler and governor are honoured,

But none is greater than he that feareth God.

Nobles will serve a servant that hath understanding,

And a wise man will not complain.

Play not the wise man when thou doest thy business,

And glorify not thyself in the time of thy need.

Better is he that worketh and hath wealth in abundance,

Than he that glorifieth himself and lacketh sustenance.

My son, glorify thy soul in humility,

And give it discretionsuch as befitteth it.

Who will justify him that condemneth himself?

And who will honour him that dishonoureth himself?

There is a poor man that is honoured on account of his wisdom,

And there is he that is honoured on account of his wealth.

He that is honoured ⁽in his poverty⁽—how much more in his wealth!

And he that is despicable in his wealth—how much more ⁽in his poverty⁽!