The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Son of Sirach 10
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?†
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 theLordhavehonor in
his eyes.
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’tboast 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?