1 The wise leader will teach his people; the
government of the intelligent man will be well-ordered.
2 As the leader is, so will his ministers be; as the leader of the city is,
so will be its inhabitants.
3 A king without wisdom will ruin his peo ple; a city will prosper through
the wisdom of its rulers.
4 The government of the earth is in the hands of the Lord; in his own time
he will raise up the right leader.
5 Human success is in the hands of the Lord and he clothes the rulers with
his glory.
Pride
6 Do not store up resentment against your neighbor, no matter what his of
fense; do nothing in a fit of anger.
7 Pride is odious to both God and man; in justice is abhorrent to both of
them.
8 Sovereignty passes from one nation to another because of injustice,
violence and wealth.
9 How can there be such pride in some one who is nothing but dust and ashes?
Even while he is living, man��s bowels are full of rottenness.
10 Look: the illness lasts while the doctor makes light of it; and one who
is king today will die tomorrow.
11 Once a man is dead, grubs, insects and worms are his lot.
12 The beginning of man��s pride is to separate himself from the Lord and to
rebel against his Creator.
13 The beginning of pride is sin. Whoever per severes in sinning opens the
floodgates to everything that is evil. For this the Lord has in flicted dire
punishment on sinners; he has re duced them to nothing.
14 The Lord has overturned the thrones of princes and set up the meek in
their place.
15 The Lord has torn up the proud by the roots and has planted the humble in
their place.
16 The Lord has overturned the land of the pagans and totally destroyed
them.
17 He has devastated several of them, destroyed them and removed all
remembrance of them from the face of the earth.
18 Pride was not created for man nor violent anger, for those born of woman.
19 Which race is worthy of honor? The human race.
Which race is worthy of honor? Those who fear the Lord.
Which race is despicable? The human race.
Which race is despicable? Those who break the commandments.
20 The leader is worthy of respect in the midst of his brethren, but he has
respect for those who fear the Lord.
22 Whether they be rich, honored or poor, their pride should be in fearing
the Lord.
23 It is not right to despise the poor man who keeps the law; it is not
fitting to honor the sinful man.
24 The leader, the judge, and the powerful man are worthy of honor, but no
one is greater than the man who fears the Lord.
25 A prudent slave will have free men as servants, and the sensible man will
not complain.
26 Do not feel proud when you have only accomplished your work; do not put
on airs when times are difficult for you.
27 Of greater worth is the man who works and lives in abundance than the one
who shows off and yet has nothing to live on.
28 My son, have a modest appreciation of yourself, estimate yourself at your
true value.
29 Who will defend the man who makes an attempt on his own life? Who will
respect the man who despises himself?
30 The poor man will be honored for his wis dom and the rich man, for his
riches.
31 Honored when poor �C how much more honored when rich!
Dishonored when rich �C how much more dis honored when poor!
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Comments Sirach, Chapter 10
• 10.6 A few words of simple philosophy about suitable modesty for everyone.