Sirach 11

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 The poor man's wisdom lifts his head high and sets him among princes.	1 The wisdom of one who is humble will exalt his head, and will cause him to sit down in the midst of great men.
2 Praise not a man for his looks; despise not a man for his appearance.	2 You should not praise a man for his beauty, and you should not despise a man for his appearances.
3 Least is the bee among winged things, but she reaps the choicest of all harvests.	3 The bee is small among flying things, but its fruit holds the summit of sweetness.
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.	4 You should not glory in clothing at any time, and you should not let yourself be extolled in the day of your honor. For the works of the Most High alone are wondrous; and glorious and hidden and unseen are his works.
5 The oppressed often rise to a throne, and some that none would consider wear a crown.	5 Many tyrants have sat upon a throne, and one whom no one would admire has worn a diadem.
6 The exalted often fall into utter disgrace; the honored are given into enemy hands.	6 Many powerful men have been powerfully cast down, and the illustrious have been handed over into the hands of others.
7 Before investigating, find no fault; examine first, then criticize.	7 Before you inquire, you should not place blame on anyone; and when you have inquired, reprove justly.
8 Before hearing, answer not, and interrupt no one in the middle of his speech.	8 Before you listen, you should not respond a word; and you should not interrupt in the middle of a discourse.
9 Dispute not about what is not your concern; in the strife of the arrogant take no part.	9 You should not contend in a matter which does not concern you, and you should not sit in judgment together with sinners.
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.	10 Son, you should not be involved in many matters. And if you become rich, you will not be free from transgression. For if you pursue, you will not apprehend; and if you run ahead, you will not escape.
11 One may toil and struggle and drive, and fall short all the more.	11 There is an impious man who labors and hurries and grieves, but all the more will he be without abundance.
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,	12 There is a debilitated man in need of recovery, who is lacking in strength and abundant in poverty.
13 Lifts up his head and exalts him to the amazement of the many.	13 Yet the eye of God has looked with favor upon him for his benefit, and he has lifted him up from his humiliation, and he has exalted his head. And many have wondered at him, and they have honored God.
14 Good and evil, life and death, poverty and riches, are from the LORD.	14 Good things and misfortune, life and death, poverty and wealth, are from God.
15 Wisdom and understanding and knowledge of affairs, love and virtuous paths are from the LORD.	15 Wisdom, and discipline, and knowledge of the law are with God. Love and the ways of good things are with him.
16 Error and darkness were formed with sinners from their birth, and evil grows old with evildoers.	16 Error and darkness have been created by sinners. And those who exult in evil, grow old in evil.
17 The LORD'S gift remains with the just; his favor brings continued success.	17 The gift of God remains with the just man, and his advancement will have success unto eternity.
18 A man may become rich through a miser's life, and this is his allotted reward:	18 There is one who is enriched by spending sparingly, and this is the extent of his 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.	19 About this, he says: “I have found rest for myself, and now I alone will eat from my goods.”
20 My son, hold fast to your duty, busy yourself with it, grow old while doing your task.	20 But he does not know how much time will pass before death approaches, and then he must leave everything behind to others and die.
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.	21 Stand fast in your covenant, and become familiar with it, and grow old in the work of your commandments.
22 God's blessing is the lot of the just man, and in due time his hopes bear fruit.	22 You should not spend time in the works of sinners. Instead, trust in God and remain in your own place.
23 Say not: "What do I need? What further pleasure can be mine?"	23 For it is easy, in the eyes of God, to make a pauper suddenly rich.
24 Say not: "I am independent. What harm can come to me now?"	24 The blessing of God hurries to reward the just man, and in a fleeting hour his advancement bears fruit.
25 The day of prosperity makes one forget adversity; the day of adversity makes one forget prosperity.	25 You should not say: “What do I need?” or, “What good will there be for me in this?”
26 For it is easy with the LORD on the day of death to repay man according to his deeds.	26 You should not say: “I have enough for myself,” or, “What could be worse than this?”
27 A moment's affliction brings forgetfulness of past delights; when a man dies, his life is revealed.	27 In a day of good things, you should not be forgetful of misfortunes. And in a day of misfortunes, you should not be forgetful of good things.
28 Call no man happy before his death, for by how he ends, a man is known.	28 For it is easy, in the sight of God, on the day of one’s passing, to repay each one according to his ways.
29 Bring not every man into your house, for many are the snares of the crafty one;	29 The affliction of an hour causes one to forget great delights, and in the end of a man is the uncovering of his works.
30 Though he seem like a bird confined in a cage, yet like a spy he will pick out the weak spots.	30 You should not praise any man before death. For a man is known by his children.
31 The talebearer turns good into evil; with a spark he sets many coals afire.	31 You should not bring every man into your house. For many are the snares of the deceitful.
32 The evil man lies in wait for blood, and plots against your choicest possessions.	32 For as a stomach with a bad smell vomits, and as a partridge is led into a cage, and like a deer led into a snare, so also is the heart of the arrogant. And it is like a bystander watching his neighbor fall.
33 Avoid a wicked man, for he breeds only evil, lest you incur a lasting stain.	33 For it lies in ambush, and then turns good into evil, and it will place the blame on the elect.
34 Lodge a stranger with you, and he will subvert your course, and make a stranger of you to your own household.	34 From one spark, a great fire grows; and from one deceitful man, much blood flows. But a very sinful man lies in ambush for blood.
	35 Pay close attention to yourself before a harmful man, for he fabricates evils. Otherwise, he may lead over you a whispered reproach unceasingly.
	36 Receive a stranger to yourself, and he will overthrow you with a whirlwind, and he will alienate you from what is your very own.