Sirach 10

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 A wise magistrate will educate his people, and the rule of an understanding man will be well ordered.	1 A wise judge will judge his people, and the leadership of an understanding man will be steadfast.
2 Like the magistrate of the people, so are his officials; and like the ruler of the city, so are all 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 An undisciplined king will ruin his people, but a city will grow through the understanding of its rulers.	3 A foolish king will be the ruin of his people. For cities will be inhabited through the understanding of those with power.
4 The government of the earth is in the hands of the Lord, and over it he will raise up the right man for the time.	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 The success of a man is in the hands of the Lord, and he confers his honor upon the person of the scribe.	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 Do not be angry with your neighbor for any injury, and do not attempt anything by acts of insolence.	6 You should forget all injury done to you by your neighbor, and you should do nothing among the works of injury.
7 Arrogance is hateful before the Lord and before men, and injustice is outrageous to both.	7 Arrogance is hateful in the sight of God and of men. And all iniquity among the nations is abominable.
8 Sovereignty passes from nation to nation on account of injustice and insolence and wealth.	8 A kingdom is transferred from one people to another because of injustices, and injuries, and contempt, and every kind of deceit.
9 How can he who is dust and ashes be proud? for even in life his bowels decay.	9 But nothing is more wicked than a greedy man. Why should that which is earth and ashes be arrogant?
10 A long illness baffles the physician; the king of today will die tomorrow.	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 For when a man is dead he will inherit creeping things, and wild beasts, and worms.	11 All power is of short life. A prolonged sickness is of grave concern to a physician.
12 The beginning of man's pride is to depart from the Lord; his heart has forsaken 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 the beginning of pride is sin, and the man who clings to it pours out abominations. Therefore the Lord brought upon them extraordinary afflictions, and destroyed them utterly.	13 For when a man dies, he will inherit serpents, and wild beasts, and worms.
14 The Lord has cast down the thrones of rulers, and has seated the lowly in their place.	14 The beginning of the arrogance of man is apostasy from God.
15 The Lord has plucked up the roots of the nations, and has planted 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 The Lord has overthrown the lands of the nations, and has destroyed them to the foundations of 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 He has removed some of them and destroyed them, and has extinguished 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 Pride was not created for men, nor fierce anger for those born of women.	18 The roots of arrogant nations, God has dried up, and the humble among these nations, he has planted.
19 What race is worthy of honor? The human race. What race is worthy of honor? Those who fear the Lord. What race is unworthy of honor? The human race. What race is unworthy of honor? 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 brothers their leader is worthy of honor, and those who fear the Lord are worthy of honor in his eyes.	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 .	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 The rich, and the eminent, and the poor-- their glory is the fear of the Lord.	22 Arrogance was not created for men, nor was an angry temperament created for the gender of women.
23 It is not right to despise an intelligent poor man, nor is it proper to honor a sinful man.	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 The nobleman, and the judge, and the ruler will be honored, but none of them is greater than the man who fears the Lord.	24 In the midst of his brothers, a ruler has honor. And those who fear the Lord will have honor in his eyes.
25 Free men will be at the service of a wise servant, and a man of understanding will not grumble.	25 The fear of God is the glory of the wealthy, and of the honorable, and of the poor.
26 Do not make a display of your wisdom when you do your work, nor glorify yourself at a time when you are in want.	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 Better is a man who works and has an abundance of everything, than one who goes about boasting, but lacks bread.	27 The great man, and the judge, and the powerful have honor. But no one is greater than he who fears God.
28 My son, glorify yourself with humility, and ascribe to yourself honor according to your worth.	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 Who will justify the man that sins against himself? And who will honor the man that dishonors his own life?	29 Do not choose to extol yourself in doing your work, and do not be unproductive during the time of distress.
30 A poor man is honored for his knowledge, while a rich man is honored for his wealth.	30 He who works, and so abounds in all things, is better than he who boasts, and so lacks bread.
31 A man honored in poverty, how much more in wealth! And a man dishonored in wealth, how much more in poverty!	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.