The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Son of Sirach 11
1 The wisdom of the lowly will lift up his
head, and make him sit in the midst
of great men.
2 Don’t commend a man for his good looks.
Don’t abhor a man for his outward
appearance.
3 The bee is little among flying creatures,
but what it produces is the best of
confections.
4 Don’t boast about the clothes you wear,
and don’t exalt yourself in the day of
honor; for the Lord’s works are wonderful,
and his works are hidden among men.
5 Many† kings have sat down upon the
ground, but one who was never thought of has
worn a crown.
6 Many mighty men have been greatly disgraced.
Men of renown have been delivered into
other men’s hands.
7 Don’t blame before you investigate.
Understand first, and then rebuke.
8 Don’t answer before you have heard.
Don’t interrupt while someone else is
speaking.
9 Don’t argue about a matter that doesn’t
concern you. Don’t sit with sinners
when they judge.
10 My son, don’t be busy about many matters;
for if you meddle much, you will not
be unpunished. If you pursue, you will not overtake,
and you will not escape by fleeing.
11 There is one who toils, labors, and hurries,
and is even more behind.
12 There is one who is sluggish, and needs
help, lacking in strength, and who abounds
in poverty, but the Lord’s eyes
looked upon him for good, and he raised
him up from his low condition,
13 and lifted up his head
so that many marveled at him.
14 Good things and bad, life and death,
poverty and riches, are from the Lord.
15-16 ‡
17 The Lord’s gift remains with the godly.
His good pleasure will prosper forever.
18 One grows rich by his diligence and selfdenial,
and this is the portion of his reward:
19 when he says, “I have found rest,
and now I will eat of my goods!”
he doesn’t know how much time will pass
untilhe leaves themto others anddies.
20 Be steadfast in your covenant and be
doing it, and grow old in your work.
21 Don’t marvel at the works of a sinner,
but trust the Lord and stay in your
labor; for itis aneasy thing inthe sight oftheLord
to swiftly and suddenly make a poor
man rich.
22 The Lord’s blessing is in the reward of
the godly. He makes his blessing flourish in an
hour that comes swiftly.
23 Don’t say, “What use is there of me?
What further good things can be
mine?”
24 Don’t say, “I have enough.
What harm could happen to me now?”
25 In the day of good things, bad things are
forgotten. In the day of bad things, a man will not
remember things that are good.
26 For it is an easy thing in the sight of the
Lord to reward a man in the day of death
according to his ways.
27 The affliction of an hour causes delights
to be forgotten. In the end, a man’s
deeds are revealed.
28 Call no man happy before his death.
A man will be known in his children.
29 Don’t bring every man into your house,
for many are the tricks of a deceitful man.
30 Like a decoy partridge in a cage, so is the
heart of a proud man. Like a spy, he looks
for your weakness.
31 For he lies in wait to turn things that are
good into evil, and assigns blame in
things that are praiseworthy.
32 From a spark of fire, a heap of many
coals is kindled, and a sinful man
lies in wait to shed blood.
33 Take heed of an evil-doer, for he plans
wicked things, lest perhaps he ruin
your reputation forever.
34 Receive a stranger into your house, and
he will distract you with arguments
and estrange you from your own family.