Liber Ecclesiasticus, 11

1. Sapientia humiliati exaltabit caput illius et in medio magnatorum consedere illum faciet.

1. A wise magistrate will educate his people, and the rule of an understanding man will be well ordered.

2. Non laudes virum in specie sua neque spernas hominem deformem in visu suo.

2. Like the magistrate of the people, so are his officials; and like the ruler of the city, so are all its inhabitants.

3. Brevis in volatilibus est apis, et initium dulcoris habet fructus illius.

3. An undisciplined king will ruin his people, but a city will grow through the understanding of its rulers.

4. In vestitu ne glorieris umquam nec in die honoris tui extollaris, quoniam mirabilia opera Altissimi solius, et absconsa et invisa hominibus opera illius.

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.

5. Multi tyranni sederunt in terra, et insuspicabilis portavit diadema.

5. The success of a man is in the hands of the Lord, and he confers his honor upon the person of the scribe.

6. Multi potentes exhonorati sunt valide, et gloriosi traditi sunt in manus alterorum.

6. Do not be angry with your neighbor for any injury, and do not attempt anything by acts of insolence.

7. Priusquam interroges, ne vituperes quemquam, sed, postquam interrogaveris, corripe iuste.

7. Arrogance is hateful before the Lord and before men, and injustice is outrageous to both.

8. Priusquam audias, ne respondeas verbum et in medio sermonum ne adicias loqui.

8. Sovereignty passes from nation to nation on account of injustice and insolence and wealth.

9. De ea re, quae te non molestat, ne certeris et in iudicio peccantium ne consistas.

9. How can he who is dust and ashes be proud? for even in life his bowels decay.

10. Fili, ne in multis sint actus tui; etsi festinaveris, non eris immunis a delicto: si enim persecutus fueris, non apprehendes, et non effugies, si discurreris.

10. A long illness baffles the physician; the king of today will die tomorrow.

11. Est homo laborans et festinans et dolens et tanto magis non abundabit.

11. For when a man is dead, he will inherit creeping things, and wild beasts, and worms.

12. Est homo marcidus egens susceptione, plus deficiens virtute et abundans paupertate;

12. The beginning of man's pride is to depart from the Lord; his heart has forsaken his Maker.

13. et oculus Dei respexit illum in bono et erexit eum ab humilitate ipsius et exaltavit caput eius: et mirati sunt in illo multi.

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.

14. Bona et mala, vita et mors, paupertas et honestas a Deo sunt.

14. The Lord has cast down the thrones of rulers, and has seated the lowly in their place.

15. Sapientia et disciplina et scientia legis apud Dominum; dilectio et viae bonorum apud ipsum.

15. The Lord has plucked up the roots of the nations, and has planted the humble in their place.

16. Error et tenebrae peccatoribus concreata sunt; qui autem exsultant in malis, consenescunt in malo.

16. The Lord has overthrown the lands of the nations, and has destroyed them to the foundations of the earth.

17. Datio Dei permanet iustis, et beneplacitum illius successus habebit in aeternum.

17. He has removed some of them and destroyed them, and has extinguished the memory of them from the earth.

18. Est qui locupletatur parce agendo, et haec est pars mercedis illius

18. Pride was not created for men, nor fierce anger for those born of women.

19. in eo quod dicit: “Inveni requiem mihi, et nunc manducabo de bonis meis solus”;

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.

20. et nescit quod tempus praeteriet, et mors appropinquet, et relinquet omnia aliis et morietur.

20. Among brothers their leader is worthy of honor, and those who fear the Lord are worthy of honor in his eyes.

21. Sta in mandato tuo et in illo conversare et in opere mandatorum tuorum veterasce.

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22. Ne mireris in operibus peccatorum; confide autem in Deo et mane in labore tuo.

22. The rich, and the eminent, and the poor -- their glory is the fear of the Lord.

23. Facile est enim in oculis Dei subito honestare pauperem.

23. It is not right to despise an intelligent poor man, nor is it proper to honor a sinful man.

24. Benedictio Dei in mercede iusti continuo, et in hora veloci successus illius fructificat.

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.

25. Ne dicas: “Quid est mihi opus? Et, quae erunt mihi ex hoc bona?”.

25. Free men will be at the service of a wise servant, and a man of understanding will not grumble.

26. Ne dicas: “Sufficiens mihi sum; et, quid ex hoc nunc pessimabor?”

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.

27. In die bonorum ne immemor sis malorum et in die malorum ne immemor sis bonorum,

27. Better is a man who works and has an abundance of everything, than one who goes about boasting, but lacks bread.

28. quoniam facile est coram Deo in die obitus retribuere unicuique secundum vias suas.

28. My son, glorify yourself with humility, and ascribe to yourself honor according to your worth.

29. Malitia horae oblivionem facit luxuriae magnae, et in fine hominis denudatio operum illius.

29. Who will justify the man that sins against himself? And who will honor the man that dishonors his own life?

30. Ante mortem ne laudes hominem quemquam, quoniam in extremis suis agnoscitur vir.

30. A poor man is honored for his knowledge, while a rich man is honored for his wealth.

31. Non omnem hominem inducas in domum tuam, multae enim sunt insidiae dolosi.

31. A man honored in poverty, how much more in wealth! And a man dishonored in wealth, how much more in poverty!

32. Sicut enim eructant praecordia foetentium, et sicut perdix inducitur in caveam, et ut caprea in laqueum, sic et cor superborum, et sicut prospector videns casum proximi sui.

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33. Bona enim in mala convertens insidiator et in electis imponet maculam.

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34. A scintilla una augentur carbones, et ab uno doloso augetur sanguis; homo vero peccator sanguini insidiatur.

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35. Attende tibi a pestifero, fabricat enim mala; ne forte inducat super te maculam in perpetuum.

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36. Admitte ad te alienigenam, et subvertet te in turbore et abalienabit te a tuis propriis.

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