Sirach 10

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 A wise judge will instruct his people; and the government of a prudent man is well ordered.	1 A sagacious ruler educates his people, and he makes his subjects understand order.
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 magistrate is, so will his officials be, as the governor is, so wil be the inhabitants of his city.
3 An unwise king destroyeth his people; but through the prudence of them which are in authority the city shall be inhabited.	3 An undisciplined king wil be the ruin of his people, a city owes its prosperity to the intel igence of itsleading men.
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 The government of the earth is in the hands of the Lord, he sets the right leader over it at the right time.
5 In the hand of God is the prosperity of man: and upon the person of the scribe shall he lay his honour.	5 Human success is in the hands of the Lord. He invests the scribe with honour.
6 Bear not hatred to thy neighbour for every wrong; and do nothing at all by injurious practices.	6 Do not resent your neighbour's every offence, and never act in a fit of passion.
7 Pride is hateful before God and man: and by both doth one commit iniquity.	7 Pride is hateful to God and humanity, and injustice is abhorrent to both.
8 Because of unrighteous dealings, injuries, and riches got by deceit, the kingdom is translated from one people to another.	8 Sovereignty passes from nation to nation because of injustice, arrogance and money.
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 What has dust and ashes to pride itself on? Even in life its entrails are repel ent.
10 The physician cutteth off a long disease; and he that is to day a king to morrow shall die.	10 A long illness makes a fool of the doctor; a king today is a corpse tomorrow.
11 For when a man is dead, he shall inherit creeping things, beasts, and worms.	11 For in death the portion of al alike wil be insects, wild animals and worms.
12 The beginning of pride is when one departeth from God, and his heart is turned away from his Maker.	12 The first stage of pride is to desert the Lord and to turn one's heart away from one's 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 Since the first stage of pride is sin, whoever clings to it will pour forth filth. This is why the Lord inflictsunexpected punishments on such people, utterly destroying them.
14 The Lord hath cast down the thrones of proud princes, and set up the meek in their stead.	14 The Lord has turned mighty princes off their thrones and seated the humble there instead.
15 The Lord hath plucked up the roots of the proud nations, and planted the lowly in their place.	15 The Lord has plucked up the proud by the roots, and planted the lowly in their place.
16 The Lord overthrew countries of the heathen, and destroyed them to the foundations of the earth.	16 The Lord has overthrown the lands of the nations and destroyed them to the very foundations of theearth.
17 He took some of them away, and destroyed them, and hath made their memorial to cease from the earth.	17 Sometimes he has taken them away and destroyed them, and blotted out their memory from the earth.
18 Pride was not made for men, nor furious anger for them that are born of a woman.	18 Pride was not created for human beings, nor furious rage for those 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 What race deserves honour? The human race. What race deserves honour? Those who fear the Lord.What race deserves contempt? The human race. What race deserves contempt? Those who break the Law.
20 Among brethren he that is chief is honorable; so are they that fear the Lord in his eyes.	20 A leader is honoured by his brothers, and those who fear the Lord are honoured by him.
21 The fear of the Lord goeth before the obtaining of authority: but roughness and pride is the losing thereof.	21
22 Whether he be rich, noble, or poor, their glory is the fear of the Lord.	22 The rich, the noble, the poor, let them pride themselves on fearing the Lord.
23 It is not meet to despise the poor man that hath understanding; neither is it convenient to magnify a sinful man.	23 It is not right to despise one who is poor but intel igent, and it is not good to honour one who is asinner.
24 Great men, and judges, and potentates, shall be honoured; yet is there none of them greater than he that feareth the Lord.	24 Magnate, magistrate, potentate, all are to be honoured, but none is greater than the one who fears theLord.
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 A wise slave wil have free men waiting on him, and the enlightened wil not complain.
26 Be not overwise in doing thy business; and boast not thyself in the time of thy distress.	26 Do not try to be smart when you do your work, do not put on airs when you are in difficulties.
27 Better is he that laboureth, and aboundeth in all things, than he that boasteth himself, and wanteth bread.	27 Better the hardworking who has plenty of everything, than the pretentious at a loss for a meal.
28 My son, glorify thy soul in meekness, and give it honour according to the dignity thereof.	28 My child, be modest in your self-esteem, and value yourself at your proper worth.
29 Who will justify him that sinneth against his own soul? and who will honour him that dishonoureth his own life?	29 Who can justify one who inflicts injuries on himself, or respect one who is ful of self-contempt?
30 The poor man is honoured for his skill, and the rich man is honoured for his riches.	30 The poor is honoured for wit, and the rich for wealth.
31 He that is honoured in poverty, how much more in riches? and he that is dishonourable in riches, how much more in poverty?	31 Honoured in poverty, how much the more in wealth! Dishonoured in wealth, how much the more inpoverty!