Sirach 11

¹ The poor man's wisdom lifts his head high and sets him among princes.

² Praise not a man for his looks; despise not a man for his appearance.

³ Least is the bee among winged things, but she reaps the choicest of all harvests.

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 The oppressed often rise to a throne, and some that none would consider wear a crown.

⁶ The exalted often fall into utter disgrace; the honored are given into enemy hands.

⁷ Before investigating, find no fault; examine first, then criticize.

⁸ Before hearing, answer not, and interrupt no one in the middle of his speech.

⁹ Dispute not about what is not your concern; in the strife of the arrogant take no part.

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 One may toil and struggle and drive, and fall short all the more.

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 Lifts up his head and exalts him to the amazement of the many.

¹⁴ Good and evil, life and death, poverty and riches, are from the LORD.

¹⁵ Wisdom and understanding and knowledge of affairs, love and virtuous paths are from the LORD.

¹⁶ Error and darkness were formed with sinners from their birth, and evil grows old with evildoers.

¹⁷ The LORD'S gift remains with the just; his favor brings continued success.

¹⁸ A man may become rich through a miser's life, and this is his allotted reward:

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 My son, hold fast to your duty, busy yourself with it, grow old while doing your task.

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 God's blessing is the lot of the just man, and in due time his hopes bear fruit.

²³ Say not: "What do I need? What further pleasure can be mine?"

²⁴ Say not: "I am independent. What harm can come to me now?"

²⁵ The day of prosperity makes one forget adversity; the day of adversity makes one forget prosperity.

²⁶ For it is easy with the LORD on the day of death to repay man according to his deeds.

²⁷ A moment's affliction brings forgetfulness of past delights; when a man dies, his life is revealed.

²⁸ Call no man happy before his death, for by how he ends, a man is known.

²⁹ Bring not every man into your house, for many are the snares of the crafty one;

³⁰ Though he seem like a bird confined in a cage, yet like a spy he will pick out the weak spots.

³¹ The talebearer turns good into evil; with a spark he sets many coals afire.

³² The evil man lies in wait for blood, and plots against your choicest possessions.

³³ Avoid a wicked man, for he breeds only evil, lest you incur a lasting stain.

³⁴ Lodge a stranger with you, and he will subvert your course, and make a stranger of you to your own household.