Sirach 10

1A wise leader will educate his people, And the rule of an intelligent man will be well ordered.

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2As goes the leader of a people, so also are his officials, And all the inhabitants of a city will reflect its ruler.

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3An undisciplined king will ruin his people, But a city will be made habitable through the wisdom of its rulers.

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4The authority of the earth is in the hand of the Lord, And He will raise up the right man for an appointed time.

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5The success of a man is in the hand of the Lord, And He confers His honor upon the person of the scribe.

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6Do not cherish anger against your neighbor for any injury, And do nothing by acts of insolence.

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7Arrogance is hateful before God and man, And wrongdoing is offensive to both.

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8Dominion is transferred from nation to nation Because of wrongdoing, insolence, and wealth.

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9How can he who is earth and ashes be arrogant? Because even while living, his insides are decaying.

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10A physician scoffs at a long illness, And a king today will also die tomorrow.

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11When a man dies, he will inherit Reptiles, wild animals, and worms.

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12The beginning of a man's arrogance is to depart from the Lord, For his heart withdraws from the One who created him.

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13For the beginning of arrogance is sin, And he who takes hold of it will pour out an abomination. Therefore the Lord will bring them extraordinary distress And completely destroy them.

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14The Lord pulls down the thrones of rulers And seats the gentle in their place.

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15The Lord plucks out the roots of nations And plants the humble in their place.

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16The Lord overthrows the lands of the nations And destroys them to the foundations of the earth.

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17He removes some of them and destroys them, And puts an end to their memory on the earth.

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18Arrogance was not created by mankind, Nor fierce anger by the offspring of women.

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19What kind of seed is honored? The seed of man. What kind of seed is honored? Those who fear the Lord. What kind of seed is dishonored? The seed of man. What kind of seed is dishonored? Those who transgress the commandments.

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20Among brothers their leader is honored, And those who fear the Lord are honored in His eyes.

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21The fear of the Lord goes before the obtaining of authority,

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22The rich and the honored and the poor alike—Their boasting is the fear of the Lord.

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23It is not right to dishonor an intelligent poor man, Nor is it proper to honor a sinful man.

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24The nobleman, the judge, and the ruler will be honored, But none of them is greater than the one who fears the Lord.

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25Free men will render service to a wise servant, And an understanding man will not grumble.

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26Do not put your wisdom on display when you do your work, Nor magnify yourself in the time of your trouble.

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27Better is he who works and has plenty Than he who magnifies himself but has no bread.

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28My son, honor your soul with gentleness And give it honor according to its worth.

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29Who will declare righteous the man who sins against his soul, And who will honor the man who dishonors his life?

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30A poor man is honored for his knowledge, While a rich man is honored for his wealth.

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31If a man is honored in poverty, How much more in wealth, And if a man is dishonored in wealth, How much more in poverty? The wisdom of a humble man will exalt his head, And he will take his seat among the great.

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