Sirach 10
10
Sirach 10
1A wise magistrate educates his people,
and the rule of an intelligent person is well ordered.
2 #
Prov 29.12
As the people’s judge is, so are his officials;
as the ruler of the city is, so are all its inhabitants.
3 #
Sir 47.23
An undisciplined king ruins his people,
but a city becomes fit to live in through the understanding of its rulers.
4 #
Ps 47.7; 75.7 The government of the earth is in the hand of the Lord,
and over it he will raise up the right leader for the time.
5 #
1 Chr 29.12; Ezra 7.6 Human success is in the hand of the Lord,
and it is he who confers honor upon the lawgiver.#10.5 Heb: Gk scribe
The Sin of Pride
6 #
Mt 5.22; 18.21, 22 Do not get angry with your neighbor for every injury,
and do not resort to acts of insolence.
7 #
Add Esth 16.2–4
Arrogance is hateful to the Lord and to mortals,
and injustice is outrageous to both.
8 #
Job 12.23; Jer 18.7–10; 27.5–8 Sovereignty passes from nation to nation
on account of injustice and insolence and wealth.#10.8 Other ancient authorities add here or after 10.9a: Nothing is more wicked than one who loves money, for such a person puts his own soul up for sale.
9 #
Sir 17.32
How can dust and ashes be proud?
Even in life the human body is infested with worms.#10.9 Heb: Meaning of Gk uncertain
10 #
1 Macc 2.62
A long illness mocks the physician;
the king of today will die tomorrow.
11 #
Isa 14.11; 1 Macc 2.63 For when humans die
they inherit maggots and vermin#10.11 Heb: Gk wild animals and worms.
12 #
Deut 8.14; Ps 106.21 The beginning of human pride is to forsake the Lord;
the heart has withdrawn from its Maker.
13For the beginning of pride is sin,
and the one who clings to it pours out abominations.
Therefore the Lord brought upon them unheard-of calamities
and destroyed them completely.#10.13 Gk: Heb brings upon them…destroys them
14 #
1 Sam 2.8; Lk 1.52 The Lord overthrew the thrones of rulers
and enthroned the lowly in their place.
15The Lord plucked up the roots of the nations#10.15 Other ancient authorities read proud nations
and planted the humble in their place.
16 #
Deut 31.3, 4 The Lord laid waste the lands of the nations
and destroyed them to the foundations of the earth.
17 #
Ps 9.6
He removed some of them and destroyed them
and erased the memory of them from the earth.
18Pride was not created for human beings
or violent anger for those born of women.
Persons Deserving Honor
19 #
1 Sam 2.30; Job 15.14; Ps 8.5, 6 Whose offspring are worthy of honor?
Human offspring.
Whose offspring are worthy of honor?
Those who fear the Lord.
Whose offspring are unworthy of honor?
Human offspring.
Whose offspring are unworthy of honor?
Those who break the commandments.
20Among family members their leader is worthy of honor,
but those who fear the Lord are worthy of honor in his eyes.#10.20 Other ancient authorities add as 10.21: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of acceptance; obduracy and pride are the beginning of rejection.
22 #
Jer 9.23, 24; Sir 9.16 The guest and the stranger#10.22 Heb: Gk The rich and the eminent and the poor—
their boast is the fear of the Lord.
23 #
Sir 13.22
It is not right to despise one who is intelligent but poor,
and it is not proper to honor one who is sinful.
24 #
Jdt 16.16; Sir 25.10 The prince and the judge and the ruler are honored,
but none of them is greater than the one who fears the Lord.
25 #
Prov 17.2
Free people will serve a wise slave,
and an intelligent person will not complain.
Concerning Humility
26Do not make a display of your wisdom when you do your work,
and do not extol yourself when you are in difficulty.
27 #
Prov 12.9
Better those who work and have plenty
than those who boast and lack bread.
28 #
Rom 12.3
My child, honor yourself with humility,
and give yourself the esteem you deserve.
29Who will acquit those who condemn#10.29 Heb: Gk sin against themselves,
and who will honor those who dishonor themselves?#10.29 Heb Lat: Gk their own life
30The poor are honored for their knowledge,
while the rich are honored for their wealth.
31One who is honored in poverty, how much more in wealth!
And one dishonored in wealth, how much more in poverty!
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Sirach 10: NRSVUE
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New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition, copyright © 2021 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.