Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), Chapter 11

¹Wisdom lifteth up the head of him that is of low degree, and maketh him to sit among great men. ²Commend not a man for his beauty; neither abhor a man for his outward appearance. ³The bee is little among such as fly; but her fruit is the chief of sweet things. ⁴Boast not of thy clothing and raiment, and exalt not thyself in the day of honour: for the works of the Lord are wonderful, and his works among men are hidden. ⁵Many kings have sat down upon the ground; and one that was never thought of hath worn the crown. ⁶Many mighty men have been greatly disgraced; and the honourable delivered into other men’s hands. ⁷Blame not before thou hast examined the truth: understand first, and then rebuke. ⁸Answer not before thou hast heard the cause: neither interrupt men in the midst of their talk.

⁹Strive not in a matter that concerneth thee not; and sit not in judgment with sinners. ¹⁰My son, meddle not with many matters: for if thou meddle much, thou shalt not be innocent; and if thou follow after, thou shalt not obtain, neither shalt thou escape by fleeing. ¹¹There is one that laboureth, and taketh pains, and maketh haste, and is so much the more behind. ¹²Again, there is another that is slow, and hath need of help, wanting ability, and full of poverty; yet the eye of the Lord looked upon him for good, and set him up from his low estate, ¹³And lifted up his head from misery; so that many that saw it marvelled at him. ¹⁴Prosperity and adversity, life and death, poverty and riches, come of the Lord. ¹⁵Wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of the law, are of the Lord: love, and the way of good works, are from him. ¹⁶Error and darkness had their beginning together with sinners: and evil shall wax old with them that glory therein.

¹⁷The gift of the Lord remaineth with the ungodly, and his favour bringeth prosperity for ever. ¹⁸There is that waxeth rich by his wariness and pinching, and this is the portion of his reward: ¹⁹Whereas he saith, I have found rest, and now will eat continually of my goods; and yet he knoweth not what time shall come upon him, and that he must leave those things to others, and die. ²⁰Be stedfast in thy covenant, and be conversant therein, and wax old in thy work. ²¹Marvel not at the works of sinners; but trust in the Lord, and abide in thy labour: for it is an easy thing in the sight of the Lord on the sudden to make a poor man rich. ²²The blessing of the Lord is in the reward of the godly, and suddenly he maketh his blessing flourish. ²³Say not, What profit is there of my service? and what good things shall I have hereafter? ²⁴Again, say not, I have enough, and possess many things, and what evil shall I have hereafter?

²⁵In the day of prosperity there is a forgetfulness of affliction: and in the day of affliction there is no more remembrance of prosperity. ²⁶For it is an easy thing unto the Lord in the day of death to reward a man according to his ways. ²⁷The affliction of an hour maketh a man forget pleasure: and in his end his deeds shall be discovered. ²⁸Judge none blessed before his death: for a man shall be known in his children. ²⁹Bring not every man into thine house: for the deceitful man hath many trains. ³⁰Like as a partridge taken and kept in a cage, so is the heart of the proud; and like as a spy, watcheth he for thy fall: ³¹For he lieth in wait, and turneth good into evil, and in things worthy praise will lay blame upon thee. ³²Of a spark of fire a heap of coals is kindled: and a sinful man layeth wait for blood.

³³Take heed of a mischievous man, for he worketh wickedness; lest he bring upon thee a perpetual blot. ³⁴Receive a stranger into thine house, and he will disturb thee, and turn thee out of thine own.