Ecclesiasticus, 10

1. A wise judge will instruct his people; and the government of a prudent man is well ordered.

1. The wise leader will teach his people; the government of the intelligent man will be well-ordered.

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.

2. As the leader is, so will his ministers be; as the leader of the city is, so will be its inhabitants.

3. An unwise king destroyeth his people; but through the prudence of them which are in authority the city shall be inhabited.

3. A king without wisdom will ruin his people; a city will prosper through the wisdom of its rulers.

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.

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. In the hand of God is the prosperity of man: and upon the person of the scribe shall he lay his honour.

5. The success of every man is in the hands of the Lord and he clothes the rulers with his glory.

6. Bear not hatred to thy neighbour for every wrong; and do nothing at all by injurious practices.

6. Do not store up resentment against your neighbor, no matter what his offense; do nothing in a fit of anger.

7. Pride is hateful before God and man: and by both doth one commit iniquity.

7. Pride is odious to both God and man; injustice is abhorrent to both of them.

8. Because of unrighteous dealings, injuries, and riches got by deceit, the kingdom is translated from one people to another.

8. Sovereignty passes from one nation to another because of injustice, violence and wealth.

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.

9. How can there be such pride in someone who is nothing but dust and ashes? Even while he is living, man's bowels are full of rottenness.

10. The physician cutteth off a long disease; and he that is to day a king to morrow shall die.

10. Look: the illness lasts while the doctor makes light of it; and one who is king today will die tomorrow.

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

11. Once a man is dead, grubs, insects and worms are his lot.

12. The beginning of pride is when one departeth from God, and his heart is turned away from his Maker.

12. The beginning of man's pride is to separate himself from the Lord and to rebel against his Creator.

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.

13. The beginning of pride is sin. Whoever perseveres in sinning opens the floodgates to everything that is evil. For this the Lord has inflicted dire punishment on sinners; he has reduced them to nothing.

14. The Lord hath cast down the thrones of proud princes, and set up the meek in their stead.

14. The Lord has overturned the thrones of princes and set up the meek in their place.

15. The Lord hath plucked up the roots of the proud nations, and planted the lowly 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 overthrew countries of the heathen, and destroyed them to the foundations of the earth.

16. The Lord has overturned the land of the pagans and totally destroyed them.

17. He took some of them away, and destroyed them, and hath made their memorial to cease from the earth.

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 made for men, nor furious anger for them that are born of a woman.

18. Pride was not created for man nor violent anger, for those born of woman.

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.

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. Among brethren he that is chief is honorable; so are they that fear the Lord in his eyes.

20. The leader is worthy of respect in the midst of his brethren, but he has respect for those who fear the Lord.

21. The fear of the Lord goeth before the obtaining of authority: but roughness and pride is the losing thereof.

21.

22. Whether he be rich, noble, or poor, their glory is the fear of the Lord.

22. Whether they be rich, honored or poor, their pride should be in fearing the Lord.

23. It is not meet to despise the poor man that hath understanding; neither is it convenient to magnify a sinful man.

23. It is not right to despise the poor man who keeps the law; it is not fitting to honor the sinful man.

24. Great men, and judges, and potentates, shall be honoured; yet is there none of them greater than he that feareth the Lord.

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. 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.

25. A prudent slave will have free men as servants, and the sensible man will not complain.

26. Be not overwise in doing thy business; and boast not thyself in the time of thy distress.

26. Do not feel proud when you have only accomplished your work; do not put on airs when times are difficult for you.

27. Better is he that laboureth, and aboundeth in all things, than he that boasteth himself, and wanteth bread.

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, glorify thy soul in meekness, and give it honour according to the dignity thereof.

28. My son, have a modest appreciation of yourself, estimate yourself at your true value.

29. Who will justify him that sinneth against his own soul? and who will honour him that dishonoureth his own life?

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 is honoured for his skill, and the rich man is honoured for his riches.

30. The poor man will be honored for his wisdom and the rich man, for his riches.

31. He that is honoured in poverty, how much more in riches? and he that is dishonourable in riches, how much more in poverty?

31. Honored when poor - how much more honored when rich! Dishonored when rich - how much more dishonored when poor!