The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus 10

¹ A wise judge will instruct his people and the government of a prudent man is well ordered ⚑

² As 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 The 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 prosperity of man and upon the person of the scribe shall he lay his honour ⚑

⁶ Bear 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 the kingdom is translated from one people to another ⚑

⁹ Why 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 ⚑

¹⁰ The physician cutteth off a long disease and he that is to day a king to morrow shall die ⚑

¹¹ For when a man is dead he shall inherit creeping things beasts and worms ⚑

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 pour out abomination and therefore the Lord brought upon them strange calamities and overthrew them utterly ⚑

¹⁴ The 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 hath made their memorial to cease from the earth ⚑

¹⁸ Pride was not made for men nor furious anger for them 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 honorable 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 their glory is the fear of the Lord ⚑

²³ It is not meet to despise the poor man that hath understanding neither is 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 Unto the servant that is wise shall they that are free do service and he 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 Better is he that laboureth and aboundeth in all things than he that boasteth himself and wanteth bread ⚑

²⁸ My son glorify 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 The 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 ⚑