X. A wise judge will instruct his people;

And the government of a prudent man is well ordered.

2  aAs 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  bThe 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 cprosperity of man:

And upon the * person of dthe scribe shall he lay his honour.

6  eBear 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,

bThe kingdom is translated from one people to another.

9  Why is fearth 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 ghe casteth away his bowels.

10  The physician cutteth off a long disease;

And hhe that is to day a king to morrow shall die.

11  For when a man is dead,

He shall inherit creeping things, beasts, and hiworms.

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 jpour out abomination:

And therefore the Lord brought upon them strange kcalamities,

And overthrew them utterly.

14  lThe 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 mhath made their memorial to cease from the earth.

18  Pride was not nmade for men,

Nor furious anger for othem 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 honourable;

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,

pTheir glory is the fear of the Lord.

23  It is not meet to despise the poor man qthat hath understanding;

Neither ris 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  sUnto the servant that is wise shall they that are free do service:

And the 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  uBetter is he that laboureth, and aboundeth in all things,

Than he that boasteth himself, and wanteth bread.

28  My son, xglorify 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  uThe 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?