Sirach 11

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 The wisdom of the humble shall exalt his head, and shall make him sit in the midst of great men.	1 The poor man's wisdom lifts his head high and sets him among princes.
2 Praise not a man for his beauty, neither despise a man for his look.	2 Praise not a man for his looks; despise not a man for his appearance.
3 The bee is small among flying things, but her fruit hath the chiefest sweetness.	3 Least is the bee among winged things, but she reaps the choicest of all harvests.
4 Glory not in apparel at any time, and be not exalted in the day of thy honour: for the works of the Highest only are wonderful, and his works are glorious, and secret, end hidden.	4 Mock not the worn cloak and jibe at no man's bitter day: For strange are the works of the LORD, hidden from men his deeds.
5 Many tyrants have sat on the throne, and he whom no man would think on, hath worn the crown.	5 The oppressed often rise to a throne, and some that none would consider wear a crown.
6 Many mighty men have been greatly brought down, and the glorious have been delivered into the hand of others.	6 The exalted often fall into utter disgrace; the honored are given into enemy hands.
7 Before thou inquire, blame no man: and when thou hast inquired, reprove justly.	7 Before investigating, find no fault; examine first, then criticize.
8 Before thou hear, answer not a word: and interrupt not others in the midst of their discourse.	8 Before hearing, answer not, and interrupt no one in the middle of his speech.
9 Strive not in a matter which doth not concern thee, and sit not in judgment with sinners.	9 Dispute not about what is not your concern; in the strife of the arrogant take no part.
10 My son, meddle not with many matters: and if thou be rich, thou shalt not be free from sin: for if thou pursue after thou shalt not overtake: and if thou run before thou shalt not escape.	10 My son, why increase your cares, since he who is avid for wealth will not be blameless? Even if you run after it, you will never overtake it; however you seek it, you will not find it.
11 There is an ungodly man that laboureth, and maketh haste, and is in sorrow, and is so much the more in want.	11 One may toil and struggle and drive, and fall short all the more.
12 Again, there is an inactive man that wanteth help, is very weak in ability, and full of poverty:	12 Another goes his way a weakling and a failure, with little strength and great misery-- Yet the eyes of the LORD look favorably upon him; he raises him free of the vile dust,
13 Yet the eye of God hath looked upon him for good, and hath lifted him up from his low estate, and hath exalted his head: and many have wondered at him, and have glorified God.	13 Lifts up his head and exalts him to the amazement of the many.
14 Good things and evil, life and death, poverty and riches, are from God.	14 Good and evil, life and death, poverty and riches, are from the LORD.
15 Wisdom and discipline, and the knowledge of the law are with God. Love and the ways of good things are with him	15 Wisdom and understanding and knowledge of affairs, love and virtuous paths are from the LORD.
16 Error and darkness are created with sinners: and they that glory in evil things, grow old in evil.	16 Error and darkness were formed with sinners from their birth, and evil grows old with evildoers.
17 The gift of God abideth with the just, and his advancement shall have success for ever.	17 The LORD'S gift remains with the just; his favor brings continued success.
18 There is one that is enriched by living sparingly, and this is the portion of his reward.	18 A man may become rich through a miser's life, and this is his allotted reward:
19 In that he saith: I have found me rest, and now I will eat of my goods alone:	19 When he says: "I have found rest, now I will feast on my possessions," He does not know how long it will be till he dies and leaves them to others.
20 And he knoweth not what time shall pass, and that death approacheth, and that he must leave all to others, and shall die.	20 My son, hold fast to your duty, busy yourself with it, grow old while doing your task.
21 Be steadfast in thy covenant, and be conversant therein, and grow old in the work of thy commandments.	21 Admire not how sinners live, but trust in the LORD and wait for his light; For it is easy with the LORD suddenly, in an instant, to make a poor man rich.
22 Abide not in the works of sinners. But trust in God, and stay in thy place.	22 God's blessing is the lot of the just man, and in due time his hopes bear fruit.
23 For it is easy in the eyes of God on a sudden to make the poor man rich.	23 Say not: "What do I need? What further pleasure can be mine?"
24 The blessing of God maketh haste to reward the just, and in a swift hour his blessing beareth fruit.	24 Say not: "I am independent. What harm can come to me now?"
25 Say not: What need I, and what good shall I have by this?	25 The day of prosperity makes one forget adversity; the day of adversity makes one forget prosperity.
26 Say not: I am sufficient for myself: and what shall I be made worse by this?	26 For it is easy with the LORD on the day of death to repay man according to his deeds.
27 In the day of good things be not unmindful of evils: and in the day of evils be not unmindful of good things:	27 A moment's affliction brings forgetfulness of past delights; when a man dies, his life is revealed.
28 For it is easy before God in the day of death to reward every one according to his ways.	28 Call no man happy before his death, for by how he ends, a man is known.
29 The affliction of an hour maketh one forget great delights, and in the end of a man is the disclosing of his works.	29 Bring not every man into your house, for many are the snares of the crafty one;
30 Praise not any man before death, for a man is known by his children.	30 Though he seem like a bird confined in a cage, yet like a spy he will pick out the weak spots.
31 Bring not every man into thy house: for many are the snares of the deceitful.	31 The talebearer turns good into evil; with a spark he sets many coals afire.
32 For as corrupted bowels send forth stinking breath, and as the partridge is brought into the cage, and as the roe into the snare: so also is the heart of the proud, and as a spy that looketh on the fall of his neighbour.	32 The evil man lies in wait for blood, and plots against your choicest possessions.
33 For he lieth in wait and turneth good into evil, and on the elect he will lay a blot.	33 Avoid a wicked man, for he breeds only evil, lest you incur a lasting stain.
34 Of one spark cometh a great fire, and of one deceitful man much blood: and a sinful man lieth in wait for blood.	34 Lodge a stranger with you, and he will subvert your course, and make a stranger of you to your own household.
35 Take heed to thyself of a mischievous man, for he worketh evils: lest he bring upon thee reproach for ever.
36 Receive a stranger in, and he shall overthrow thee with a whirlwind, and shall turn thee out of thy own.