Ecclesiasticus, 11

1. Wisdom enables the poor to stand erect, and gives to the poor a place with the great.

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

2. Do not praise anyone for good looks, nor dislike anyone for mere appearance.

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

3. Small among winged creatures is the bee but her produce is the sweetest of the sweet.

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

4. Do not grow proud when people honour you; for the works of the Lord are wonderful but hidden from human beings.

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. Many monarchs have been made to sit on the ground, and the person nobody thought of has worn the crown.

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. Many influential people have been utterly disgraced, and prominent people have fallen into the power of others.

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

7. Do not find fault before making thorough enquiry; first reflect, then give a reprimand.

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

8. Listen before you answer, and do not interrupt a speech before it is finished.

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

9. Do not wrangle about something that does not concern you, do not interfere in the quarrels of sinners.

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

10. My child, do not take on a great amount of business; if you multiply your interests, you are bound to suffer for it; hurry as fast as you can, yet you will never arrive, nor will you escape by running away.

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

11. Some people work very hard at top speed, only to find themselves falling further behind.

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

12. Or there is the slow kind of person, needing help, poor in possessions and rich in poverty; and the Lord turns a favourable eye on him, lifts him out of his wretched condition,

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

13. and enables him to hold his head high, thus causing general astonishment.

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. Good and bad, life and death, poverty and wealth, all come from the Lord.

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

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

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

17. To the devout the Lord's gift remains constant, and his favour will be there to lead them for ever.

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

18. Others grow rich by pinching and scraping, and here is the reward they receive for it:

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

19. although they say, 'Now I can sit back and enjoy the benefit of what I have got,' they do not know how long this will last; they will have to leave their goods to others and die.

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. Stick to your job, work hard at it and grow old at your work.

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

21. Do not admire the achievements of sinners, trust the Lord and mind your own business; since it is a trifle in the eyes of the Lord, in a moment, suddenly to make the poor rich.

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22. The blessing of the Lord is the reward of the devout, in a moment God brings his blessing to flower.

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

23. Do not say, 'What are my needs, how much shall I have in the future?'

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

24. And do not say, 'I am self-sufficient, what disaster can affect me now?'

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. In prosperous times, disasters are forgotten and in times of disaster, no one remembers prosperity.

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

26. Yet it is a trifle for the Lord on the day someone dies to repay him as his conduct deserves.

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. A moment's adversity, and pleasures are forgotten; in a person's last hour his deeds will stand revealed.

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

28. Call no one fortunate before his death; it is by his end that someone will be known.

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

29. Do not bring everyone home with you, for many are the traps of the crafty.

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

30. Like a captive partridge in a cage, so is the heart of the proud: like a spy he watches for your downfall,

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

31. ever on the look-out, turning good into bad and finding fault with what is praiseworthy.

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

32. A hearthful of glowing coals starts from a single spark, and the sinner lurks for the chance to spill blood.

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33. Beware of a scoundrel and his evil contrivances, in case he puts a smear on you for ever.

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34. Give a home to a stranger and he will start trouble and estrange you from your own family.

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