Jul 16 - Sirach 10-12
Sirach
1A wise judge will judge his people, and the leadership of an understanding man will be steadfast2As the judge of the people is, so also are his assistants. And whatever kind of man the ruler of a city is, of such a kind also are those who live in it3A foolish king will be the ruin of his people. For cities will be inhabited through the understanding of those with power4Power over the earth is in the hand of God, and, in due time, he will raise up a helpful leader over the earth5The prosperity of a man is in the hand of God, and he will place his honor above the face of the scribe6You should forget all injury done to you by your neighbor, and you should do nothing among the works of injury7Arrogance is hateful in the sight of God and of men. And all iniquity among the nations is abominable8A kingdom is transferred from one people to another because of injustices, and injuries, and contempt, and every kind of deceit9But nothing is more wicked than a greedy man. Why should that which is earth and ashes be arrogant10There is nothing more iniquitous than to love money. For such a one has sold even his own soul. For in his life, he casts aside his innermost being11All power is of short life. A prolonged sickness is of grave concern to a physician12A physician causes a sickness to be shortened. So also, a king is here today, and tomorrow he will die13For when a man dies, he will inherit serpents, and wild beasts, and worms14The beginning of the arrogance of man is apostasy from God15For his heart has withdrawn from the One who made him. For arrogance is the beginning of all sin. Whoever holds to it, will be filled with evil words, and it will overthrow him in the end16Because of this, the Lord has dishonored the gatherings of the evil, and he has destroyed them, even unto the end17God has destroyed the seats of arrogant leaders, and he has caused the meek to be seated in their place18The roots of arrogant nations, God has dried up, and the humble among these nations, he has planted19The Lord has overthrown the lands of the Gentiles, and he has utterly destroyed them, even to their foundation20He has dried up some of them, and he has utterly destroyed them, and he has caused their memory to depart from the earth21God has abolished the memory of the arrogant, and he has left behind only the memory of those who are humble in mind22Arrogance was not created for men, nor was an angry temperament created for the gender of women23Those who fear God among the offspring of men will be honored. But those among the offspring who ignore the commandments of the Lord will be dishonored24In the midst of his brothers, a ruler has honor. And those who fear the Lord will have honor in his eyes25The fear of God is the glory of the wealthy, and of the honorable, and of the poor26Do not choose to despise a just man who is poor, and do not choose to magnify a sinful man who is rich27The great man, and the judge, and the powerful have honor. But no one is greater than he who fears God28Those who are free will serve an understanding servant. And a prudent and disciplined man will not murmur at correction. But an ignorant man will not be honored29Do not choose to extol yourself in doing your work, and do not be unproductive during the time of distress30He who works, and so abounds in all things, is better than he who boasts, and so lacks bread31Son, preserve your soul in meekness, and give it honor according to its merit32Who will justify one who sins in his soul? And who will honor one who dishonors his soul33The poor man is glorified by his discipline and fear. And there is a man who is honored because of his substance34But if someone is glorified in poverty, how much more in substance? And whoever is glorified in substance, let him fear poverty
1The wisdom of one who is humble will exalt his head, and will cause him to sit down in the midst of great men2You should not praise a man for his beauty, and you should not despise a man for his appearances3The bee is small among flying things, but its fruit holds the summit of sweetness4You should not glory in clothing at any time, and you should not let yourself be extolled in the day of your honor. For the works of the Most High alone are wondrous; and glorious and hidden and unseen are his works5Many tyrants have sat upon a throne, and one whom no one would admire has worn a diadem6Many powerful men have been powerfully cast down, and the illustrious have been handed over into the hands of others7Before you inquire, you should not place blame on anyone; and when you have inquired, reprove justly8Before you listen, you should not respond a word; and you should not interrupt in the middle of a discourse9You should not contend in a matter which does not concern you, and you should not sit in judgment together with sinners10Son, you should not be involved in many matters. And if you become rich, you will not be free from transgression. For if you pursue, you will not apprehend; and if you run ahead, you will not escape11There is an impious man who labors and hurries and grieves, but all the more will he be without abundance12There is a debilitated man in need of recovery, who is lacking in strength and abundant in poverty13Yet the eye of God has looked with favor upon him for his benefit, and he has lifted him up from his humiliation, and he has exalted his head. And many have wondered at him, and they have honored God14Good things and misfortune, life and death, poverty and wealth, are from God15Wisdom, and discipline, and knowledge of the law are with God. Love and the ways of good things are with him16Error and darkness have been created by sinners. And those who exult in evil, grow old in evil17The gift of God remains with the just man, and his advancement will have success unto eternity18There is one who is enriched by spending sparingly, and this is the extent of his reward19About this, he says: "I have found rest for myself, and now I alone will eat from my goods.20But he does not know how much time will pass before death approaches, and then he must leave everything behind to others and die21Stand fast in your covenant, and become familiar with it, and grow old in the work of your commandments22You should not spend time in the works of sinners. Instead, trust in God and remain in your own place23For it is easy, in the eyes of God, to make a pauper suddenly rich24The blessing of God hurries to reward the just man, and in a fleeting hour his advancement bears fruit25You should not say: "What do I need?" or, "What good will there be for me in this?26You should not say: "I have enough for myself," or, "What could be worse than this?27In a day of good things, you should not be forgetful of misfortunes. And in a day of misfortunes, you should not be forgetful of good things28For it is easy, in the sight of God, on the day of one’s passing, to repay each one according to his ways29The affliction of an hour causes one to forget great delights, and in the end of a man is the uncovering of his works30You should not praise any man before death. For a man is known by his children31You should not bring every man into your house. For many are the snares of the deceitful32For as a stomach with a bad smell vomits, and as a partridge is led into a cage, and like a deer led into a snare, so also is the heart of the arrogant. And it is like a bystander watching his neighbor fall33For it lies in ambush, and then turns good into evil, and it will place the blame on the elect34From one spark, a great fire grows; and from one deceitful man, much blood flows. But a very sinful man lies in ambush for blood35Pay close attention to yourself before a harmful man, for he fabricates evils. Otherwise, he may lead over you a whispered reproach unceasingly36Receive a stranger to yourself, and he will overthrow you with a whirlwind, and he will alienate you from what is your very own
1If you do good, know to whom you do it, and there will be many thanks for your good deeds2Do good to the just, and you will find great recompense, and if not from him, certainly from the Lord3For there is no good for someone who is always occupied in evil, or who does not give alms. For the Most High holds hatred for sinners, but he takes pity on the repentant4Give to the merciful, and you should not assist the sinner. For the impious and the sinner will be repaid with the vengeance being held for them on the day of retribution5Give to the good, but you should not receive from a sinner6Do good to the humble, but you should not give to the impious; withhold your bread, do not give it to him, otherwise he may overpower you with it7For you will find twice the evil for all the good you will have done to him. For the Most High also holds hatred for sinners, and he will repay vengeance to the impious8A friend will not be known in good times, and an enemy will not be hidden in adversity9By the good fortune of a man, his enemies are grieved; and by his misfortune, a friend is revealed10You should never trust your enemy. For his wickedness rusts like a brass pot11And if he humbles himself and goes about bowed down, increase your alertness and guard yourself from him12You should not sit down anywhere near him, nor should you allow him to sit at your right hand, lest perhaps he may turn toward your place, and seek your seat, and then, in the very end, you would understand my words and be stung by my sermon13Who will take pity on an enchanter struck by a serpent, or on someone who draws near to wild beasts? And so it is with one who keeps company with an iniquitous man and is involved in his sins14For one hour, he will abide with you. But if you begin to turn aside, he will not permit it15An enemy speaks sweetly with his lips, but in his heart, he waits in ambush, so that he may throw you into a pit16An enemy has tears in his eyes. But if he finds an opportunity, he will not be satisfied with blood17And if misfortunes happen upon you, you will find him there first18An enemy has tears in his eyes, but while pretending to help you, he will dig under your feet19He will shake his head, and clap his hands, and whisper much, and change his expression