Sirach 10

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 A wise judge will instruct his people; and the government of a prudent man is well ordered.	1 A wise magistrate lends stability to 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.	2 As the people's judge, so are his ministers; as the head of a city, its inhabitants.
3 An unwise king destroyeth his people; but through the prudence of them which are in authority the city shall be inhabited.	3 A wanton king destroys his people, but a city grows through the wisdom of its princes.
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.	4 Sovereignty over the earth is in the hand of God, who raises up on it the man of the hour;
5 In the hand of God is the prosperity of man: and upon the person of the scribe shall he lay his honour.	5 Sovereignty over every man is in the hand of God, who imparts his majesty to the ruler.
6 Bear not hatred to thy neighbour for every wrong; and do nothing at all by injurious practices.	6 No matter the wrong, do no violence to your neighbor, and do not walk the path of arrogance.
7 Pride is hateful before God and man: and by both doth one commit iniquity.	7 Odious to the LORD and to men is arrogance, and the sin of oppression they both hate.
8 Because of unrighteous dealings, injuries, and riches got by deceit, the kingdom is translated from one people to another.	8 Dominion is transferred from one people to another because of the violence of the arrogant.
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.	9 Why are dust and ashes proud? even during life man's body decays;
10 The physician cutteth off a long disease; and he that is to day a king to morrow shall die.	10 A slight illness--the doctor jests, a king today--tomorrow he is dead.
11 For when a man is dead, he shall inherit creeping things, beasts, and worms.	11 When a man dies, he inherits corruption; worms and gnats and maggots.
12 The beginning of pride is when one departeth from God, and his heart is turned away from his Maker.	12 The beginning of pride is man's stubbornness in withdrawing his heart 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.	13 For pride is the reservoir of sin, a source which runs over with vice; Because of it God sends unheard-of afflictions and brings men to utter ruin.
14 The Lord hath cast down the thrones of proud princes, and set up the meek in their stead.	14 The thrones of the arrogant God overturns and establishes the lowly in their stead.
15 The Lord hath plucked up the roots of the proud nations, and planted the lowly in their place.	15 The roots of the proud God plucks up, to plant the humble in their place:
16 The Lord overthrew countries of the heathen, and destroyed them to the foundations of the earth.	16 He breaks down their stem to the level of the ground, then digs their roots from the earth.
17 He took some of them away, and destroyed them, and hath made their memorial to cease from the earth.	17 The traces of the proud God sweeps away and effaces the memory of them from the earth.
18 Pride was not made for men, nor furious anger for them that are born of a woman.	18 Insolence is not allotted to a man, nor stubborn anger to one born of 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.	19 Whose offspring can be in honor? Those of men. Which offspring are in honor? Those who fear God. Whose offspring can be in disgrace? Those of men. Which offspring are in disgrace? Those who transgress the commandments.
20 Among brethren he that is chief is honorable; so are they that fear the Lord in his eyes.	20 Among brethren their leader is in honor; he who fears God is in honor among his people.
21 The fear of the Lord goeth before the obtaining of authority: but roughness and pride is the losing thereof.	21 Be it tenant or wayfarer, alien or pauper, his glory is the fear of the LORD.
22 Whether he be rich, noble, or poor, their glory is the fear of the Lord.	22 It is not just to despise a man who is wise but poor, nor proper to honor any sinner.
23 It is not meet to despise the poor man that hath understanding; neither is it convenient to magnify a sinful man.	23 The prince, the ruler, the judge are in honor; but none is greater than he who fears God.
24 Great men, and judges, and potentates, shall be honoured; yet is there none of them greater than he that feareth the Lord.	24 When free men serve a prudent slave, the wise man does not complain.
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.	25 Flaunt not your wisdom in managing your affairs, and boast not in your time of need.
26 Be not overwise in doing thy business; and boast not thyself in the time of thy distress.	26 Better the worker who has plenty of everything than the boaster who is without bread.
27 Better is he that laboureth, and aboundeth in all things, than he that boasteth himself, and wanteth bread.	27 My son, with humility have self-esteem; prize yourself as you deserve.
28 My son, glorify thy soul in meekness, and give it honour according to the dignity thereof.	28 Who will acquit him who condemns himself? who will honor him who discredits himself?
29 Who will justify him that sinneth against his own soul? and who will honour him that dishonoureth his own life?	29 The poor man is honored for his wisdom as the rich man is honored for his wealth;
30 The poor man is honoured for his skill, and the rich man is honoured for his riches.	30 Honored in poverty, how much more so in wealth! Dishonored in wealth, in poverty how much the more!
31 He that is honoured in poverty, how much more in riches? and he that is dishonourable in riches, how much more in poverty?