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