Sirach 11
11
Sirach 11
The Deceptiveness of Appearances
1 #
Gn 41.40; Dan 6.3; Sir 39.4 The wisdom of the humble lifts their heads high
and seats them among the great.
2 #
1 Sam 16.7
Do not praise individuals for their good looks
or loathe anyone because of appearance alone.
3 #
Judg 14.18; Ps 119.103; Prov 16.24; 24.13 The bee is small among flying creatures,
but what it produces is the origin of sweet things.
4 #
Ps 139.14; Dan 4.30; Acts 12.21 Do not mock those wearing only a loincloth
or make fun of those whose day is bitter,#11.4 Heb: Gk Do not boast about wearing fine clothes, and do not exalt yourself when you are honored
for the works of the Lord are wonderful
and his works are concealed from humans.
5 #
Ps 78.70, 71 Many oppressed have sat upon a throne,#11.5 Heb: Gk Many sovereigns have sat on the ground
and one whom no one expected has worn a crown.
6 #
1 Sam 15.28; Est 7.10 Many rulers have been utterly disgraced,
and the honored have been handed over to others.
Deliberation and Caution
7 #
Deut 13.14; 17.6; Jn 7.51 Do not find fault before you investigate;
examine first and then criticize.
8 #
Prov 18.13
Do not answer before you listen,
and do not interrupt when another is speaking.
9Do not argue about a matter that does not concern you,
and do not sit with sinners when they judge a case.
10My child, do not busy yourself with many matters;
if you multiply activities, you will not be held blameless.
If you pursue, you will not overtake,
and by fleeing you will not escape.
11 #
Ps 127.2; 1 Tim 6.9 There are those who work and struggle and hurry
but are so much the more in want.
12 #
Job 42.10
There are others who are slow and need help,
who lack strength and abound in poverty,
but the eyes of the Lord look kindly upon them;
he lifts them out of their lowly condition
13and raises up their heads
to the amazement of the many.
14 #
1 Sam 2.7; Job 1.21; 2.10 Good things and bad, life and death,
poverty and wealth, come from the Lord.#11.14 Other ancient authorities add as 11.15–16: 15 Wisdom, understanding, and knowledge of the law come from the Lord; affection and the ways of good works come from him. 16 Error and darkness were created with sinners; evil grows old with those who take pride in malice.
17The Lord’s gift remains with the devout,
and his favor brings lasting success.
18 #
Eccl 4.8; Sir 31.3 A person becomes rich through diligence and self-denial,
and the reward allotted to him is this:
19 #
Ps 49.10; Sir 14.4, 15; 31.3; Lk 12.19 when he says, “I have found rest,
and now I shall feast on my goods!”
he does not realize how time passes by;
he will leave them to others and will die.
20Stand by your agreement and attend to it,
and grow old in your work.
21 #
Prov 23.17; Eccl 5.8 Do not wonder at the works of a sinner,
but trust in the Lord and keep at your job,
for it is easy in the sight of the Lord
to make the poor person suddenly rich, in an instant.
22The blessing of the Lord is#11.22 Heb: Gk is in the reward of the pious,
and quickly his blessing flourishes.
23 #
Mal 3.14; Tob 2.14 Do not say, “What do I need,
and what further benefit can be mine?”
24 #
v 19
Do not say, “I have enough,
and what harm can come to me now?”
25 #
Eccl 11.8; Sir 18.25 In the day of prosperity, adversity is forgotten,
and in the day of adversity, prosperity is not remembered.
26 #
Sir 18.24; Lk 16.25 For it is easy for the Lord on the day of death
to reward individuals according to their conduct.
27 #
Job 42.12; Sir 1.13 An hour’s misery makes one forget delights,
and at the close of one’s life one’s deeds are revealed.
28Call no one happy before his death;
by how he ends, a person becomes known.#11.28 Heb: Gk and through his children a person becomes known
Care in Choosing Friends
29Do not invite everyone into your home,
for many are the tricks of the crafty.
30 #
Jer 5.26, 27 Like a decoy partridge in a cage, so is the mind of the proud,
and like spies they observe your weakness,#11.30 Heb: Gk downfall
31 #
Isa 5.20, 23 for they lie in wait, turning good into evil,
and to worthy actions they attach blame.
32 #
Prov 1.11; Jas 3.5 From a spark many coals are kindled,
and a sinner lies in wait to shed blood.
33 #
Prov 6.12–14
Beware of scoundrels, for they devise evil,
and they may ruin your reputation forever.
34Receive strangers into your home, and they will stir up trouble for you
and will make you a stranger to your own family.
Currently Selected:
Sirach 11: NRSVUE
Highlight
Copy
Compare
Share
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
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.