Sirach 10

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 A wise magistrate lends stability to his people, and the government of a prudent man is well ordered.	1 A wise judge will judge his people, and the leadership of an understanding man will be steadfast.
2 As the people's judge, so are his ministers; as the head of a city, its inhabitants.	2 As the judge of the people is, so also are his assistants. And whatever kind of man the ruler of a city is, of such a kind also are those who live in it.
3 A wanton king destroys his people, but a city grows through the wisdom of its princes.	3 A foolish king will be the ruin of his people. For cities will be inhabited through the understanding of those with power.
4 Sovereignty over the earth is in the hand of God, who raises up on it the man of the hour;	4 Power over the earth is in the hand of God, and, in due time, he will raise up a helpful leader over the earth.
5 Sovereignty over every man is in the hand of God, who imparts his majesty to the ruler.	5 The prosperity of a man is in the hand of God, and he will place his honor above the face of the scribe.
6 No matter the wrong, do no violence to your neighbor, and do not walk the path of arrogance.	6 You should forget all injury done to you by your neighbor, and you should do nothing among the works of injury.
7 Odious to the LORD and to men is arrogance, and the sin of oppression they both hate.	7 Arrogance is hateful in the sight of God and of men. And all iniquity among the nations is abominable.
8 Dominion is transferred from one people to another because of the violence of the arrogant.	8 A kingdom is transferred from one people to another because of injustices, and injuries, and contempt, and every kind of deceit.
9 Why are dust and ashes proud? even during life man's body decays;	9 But nothing is more wicked than a greedy man. Why should that which is earth and ashes be arrogant?
10 A slight illness--the doctor jests, a king today--tomorrow he is dead.	10 There is nothing more iniquitous than to love money. For such a one has sold even his own soul. For in his life, he casts aside his innermost being.
11 When a man dies, he inherits corruption; worms and gnats and maggots.	11 All power is of short life. A prolonged sickness is of grave concern to a physician.
12 The beginning of pride is man's stubbornness in withdrawing his heart from his Maker;	12 A physician causes a sickness to be shortened. So also, a king is here today, and tomorrow he will die.
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.	13 For when a man dies, he will inherit serpents, and wild beasts, and worms.
14 The thrones of the arrogant God overturns and establishes the lowly in their stead.	14 The beginning of the arrogance of man is apostasy from God.
15 The roots of the proud God plucks up, to plant the humble in their place:	15 For his heart has withdrawn from the One who made him. For arrogance is the beginning of all sin. Whoever holds to it, will be filled with evil words, and it will overthrow him in the end.
16 He breaks down their stem to the level of the ground, then digs their roots from the earth.	16 Because of this, the Lord has dishonored the gatherings of the evil, and he has destroyed them, even unto the end.
17 The traces of the proud God sweeps away and effaces the memory of them from the earth.	17 God has destroyed the seats of arrogant leaders, and he has caused the meek to be seated in their place.
18 Insolence is not allotted to a man, nor stubborn anger to one born of woman.	18 The roots of arrogant nations, God has dried up, and the humble among these nations, he has planted.
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.	19 The Lord has overthrown the lands of the Gentiles, and he has utterly destroyed them, even to their foundation.
20 Among brethren their leader is in honor; he who fears God is in honor among his people.	20 He has dried up some of them, and he has utterly destroyed them, and he has caused their memory to depart from the earth.
21 Be it tenant or wayfarer, alien or pauper, his glory is the fear of the LORD.	21 God has abolished the memory of the arrogant, and he has left behind only the memory of those who are humble in mind.
22 It is not just to despise a man who is wise but poor, nor proper to honor any sinner.	22 Arrogance was not created for men, nor was an angry temperament created for the gender of women.
23 The prince, the ruler, the judge are in honor; but none is greater than he who fears God.	23 Those who fear God among the offspring of men will be honored. But those among the offspring who ignore the commandments of the Lord will be dishonored.
24 When free men serve a prudent slave, the wise man does not complain.	24 In the midst of his brothers, a ruler has honor. And those who fear the Lord will have honor in his eyes.
25 Flaunt not your wisdom in managing your affairs, and boast not in your time of need.	25 The fear of God is the glory of the wealthy, and of the honorable, and of the poor.
26 Better the worker who has plenty of everything than the boaster who is without bread.	26 Do not choose to despise a just man who is poor, and do not choose to magnify a sinful man who is rich.
27 My son, with humility have self-esteem; prize yourself as you deserve.	27 The great man, and the judge, and the powerful have honor. But no one is greater than he who fears God.
28 Who will acquit him who condemns himself? who will honor him who discredits himself?	28 Those who are free will serve an understanding servant. And a prudent and disciplined man will not murmur at correction. But an ignorant man will not be honored.
29 The poor man is honored for his wisdom as the rich man is honored for his wealth;	29 Do not choose to extol yourself in doing your work, and do not be unproductive during the time of distress.
30 Honored in poverty, how much more so in wealth! Dishonored in wealth, in poverty how much the more!	30 He who works, and so abounds in all things, is better than he who boasts, and so lacks bread.
	31 Son, preserve your soul in meekness, and give it honor according to its merit.
	32 Who will justify one who sins in his soul? And who will honor one who dishonors his soul?
	33 The poor man is glorified by his discipline and fear. And there is a man who is honored because of his substance.
	34 But if someone is glorified in poverty, how much more in substance? And whoever is glorified in substance, let him fear poverty.