Scrutatio

Domenica, 28 aprile 2024 - San Luigi Maria Grignion da Montfort ( Letture di oggi)

Sirach 10


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