Sirach
As found in the Greek Septuagint
GNB
Chapter 10
Rulers
(continued
from chapter 9)
Sirach 10:1 A wise ruler will educate his people, and his government will be
orderly.
Sirach 10:2 All the officials and all the citizens will be like their ruler.
Sirach 10:3 An uneducated king will ruin his people, but a government will grow
strong if its rulers are wise.
Sirach 10:4 The Lord sees to the government of the world and brings the right
person to power at the right time.
Sirach 10:5 The success of that person is in the Lord's hands. The Lord is the
source of the honor given to any official.
Pride
Sirach 10:6 Don't be angry with someone for every little thing he does wrong.
Don't do anything out of injured pride.
Sirach 10:7 Arrogance and injustice are hated by both the Lord and people.
Sirach 10:8 Injustice, arrogance, and wealth cause nations to fall from power,
and others then rise to take their place.
Sirach 10:9 We are only dust and ashes; what have we got to be proud of? Or body
decays even while we are alive.
Sirach 10:10 A long illness puzzles the doctor. Even a king may be alive today
and dead tomorrow.
Sirach 10:11 When a person dies, all he then possesses is worms, flies, and
maggots.
Sirach 10:12 Pride has its beginning when a person abandons the Lord, his maker.
Sirach 10:13 Pride is like a fountain pouring out sin, and whoever persists in
it will be full of wickedness. That is why the Lord brought terrible punishment
on some people and completely destroyed them.
Sirach 10:14 The Lord has overthrown kings and put humbler people in their
place.
Sirach 10:15 The Lord has pulled up nations by the roots and established humbler
ones in their place.
Sirach 10:16 The Lord has overthrown empires and completely devastated their
lands.
Sirach 10:17 He destroyed some so completely that they are not even remembered
any more.
Sirach 10:18 The Creator never intended for human beings to be arrogant and
violent.
People Who Should Be Honored
Sirach 10:19 Who deserves honor? The human race does, because people fear the
Lord. Who does not deserve honor? The human race does not, because people break
the Lord's commands.
Sirach 10:20 A leader should be honored by those who follow him, and the Lord
honors those who fear him.
Sirach 10:22 Rich people, famous people, and poor people all take pride in their
fear of the Lord.
Sirach 10:23 It is not right to refuse honor to a poor person who is
intelligent, and it is not right to give honor to a sinner.
Sirach 10:24 People of influence, rulers, and judges will be honored, but none
of them is greater than a person who fears the Lord.
Sirach 10:25 A slave who is wise will have free citizens serving him; and if
they are sensible, they will not resent it.
Humility and Self-respect
Sirach 10:26 When you do your work, don't make a show of your skill, and don't
try to put on a show when you are in trouble.
Sirach 10:27 It is better to work and have more than you need than to go around
boasting but hungry.
Sirach 10:28 My child, keep your self-respect, but remain modest. Value yourself
at your true worth.
Sirach 10:29 There is no excuse for a person to run himself down. No one
respects a person who has no respect for himself.
Sirach 10:30 Poor people can be honored for their good sense, and rich people
can be honored for their wealth.
Sirach 10:31 If someone is honored while he is poor, think how much he will be
honored if he becomes rich! If someone is despised while he is rich, think how
much more he will be despised if he becomes poor!