Sirach 11
11
1Those in power
always make room
for someone wise and humble.
2Do not praise or despise anyone
on the basis of their looks.
3The honeybee is very small,
but it makes
the sweetest food.
4Don't boast about your clothes
or act important
when you are honored.
Only the Lord does things
truly worthy of praise,
but he keeps them hidden
from our sight.
5Kings often lose their power
to those who had seemed
to be nobodies,
6while honored rulers
are captured and disgraced.
All Things Come from the Lord
7Find out the truth
before you criticize.
8Don't interrupt others—
hear them out,
then give your answer.
9If it's none of your business,
then don't argue with them,
and stay away from sinners
when they discuss what to do.
10Students, don't let yourself
become too busy.
If you do, you will sin
and not find success
or escape trouble.
11Some people work all day long
as hard as they can,
but they keep getting poorer.
12Others are poor and weak;
they work slowly
and always need help.
But the Lord shows kindness
13and to everyone's surprise,
he lifts them from poverty
and gives them honor.
14All things, whether good or bad,
come from the Lord.
He gives life and riches
or takes them away.
15The Lord gives wisdom
by teaching us
to understand his Law.
He helps us love each other
and do right.
16Sinners are dishonest
and live in darkness,
proud of their evil
from the day they are born,
and so evil will stay with them
until the day they die.#11.15,16 The Lord gives wisdom … until the day they die: Verses 15,16 are not in some manuscripts.
17But the Lord gives success
to his faithful people
and blesses them with gifts
that last forever.
18 #
Ps 49.10; Lk 12.16-21. You can become rich,
if you work hard
and never spend any money.
But then what?
19When you finally retire
to enjoy what you own,
you soon may die,
and then your wealth
will belong to others.
20When you agree to do work,
stay busy and don't quit.
21Don't be surprised
at what sinners do;
trust the Lord and keep working,
because he can make you rich
in a moment's time.
22Suddenly, he will reward you
and bless you with prosperity,
if you are faithful to him.
* 23So don't say, “I already have
everything I need—
what more could the Lord
do for me?
24Nothing can harm me now!”
25When people are well off,
they never mention
how needy they once were,
and when they have trouble,
the good times are forgotten.
26But at the end of life,
the Lord will pay us back
for what we have done.
27Pleasant memories fade
after an hour of pain,
but the way that you lived
is made clear by how you die
28and by what kind of children
you leave behind.
So don't praise anyone
until they are dead.
Be Careful
29Don't let just anyone
come to your house.
Dishonest people will trick you,
30as bird hunters use decoys
to trap quails.
They watch you like spies,
waiting for some mistake
31or for a chance
to make your good deeds
seem evil.
32One spark can start a fire,
and one sinner's evil plan
can end in murder.
33Watch out for the schemes
of those who do evil,
or they may ruin
your good name.
34And if you let foreigners
come to live in your home,
they will cause trouble
and persuade you to accept
their customs and gods.#11.34 persuade … gods: Greek “make you a foreigner to your own family.”
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Sirach 11: CEVDCI
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.