10:27. The great man, and the judge, and the mighty is in honour: and there is none greater than he that feareth G.o.d.
10:28. They that are free shall serve a servant that is wise: and a man that is prudent and well instructed will not murmur when he is reproved; and he that is ignorant, shall not be honoured.
10:29. Extol not thyself in doing thy work, and linger not in the time of distress;
10:30. Better is he that laboureth, and aboundeth in all things, than he that boasteth himself and wanteth bread.
10:31. My son, keep thy soul in meekness, and give it honour according to its desert.
10:32. Who will justify him that sinneth against his own soul? and who will honour him that dishonoureth his own soul?
10:33. The poor man is glorified by his discipline and fear, and there is a man that is honoured for his wealth.
10:34. But he that is glorified in poverty, how much more in wealth? and he that is glorified in wealth, let him fear poverty.
Ecclesiasticus Chapter 11
Lessons of humility and moderation in all things.
11:1. The wisdom of the humble shall exalt his head, and shall make him sit in the midst of great men.
11:2. Praise not a man for his beauty, neither despise a man for his look.
11:3. The bee is small among flying things but her fruit hath the chiefest sweetness.
11:4. Glory not in apparel at any time, and be not exalted in the day of thy honour: for the works of the Highest only are wonderful, and his works are glorious, and secret, and hidden.
11:5. Many tyrants have sat on the throne, and he whom no man would think on, hath worn the crown.
11:6. Many mighty men have been greatly brought down, and the glorious have been delivered into the hand of others.
11:7. Before thou inquire, blame no man: and when thou hast inquired, reprove justly.
11:8. Before thou hear, answer not a word: and interrupt not others in the midst of their discourse.
11:9. Strive not in a matter which doth not concern thee, and sit not in judgment with sinners.
11:10. My son, meddle not with many matters: and if thou be rich, thou shalt not be free from sin: for if thou pursue after thou shalt not overtake; and if thou run before thou shalt not escape.
11:11. There is an unG.o.dly man that laboureth, and maketh haste, and is in sorrow, and is so much the more in want.
11:12. Again, there is an inactive man that wanteth help, is very weak in ability, and full of poverty:
11:13. Yet the eye of G.o.d hath looked upon him for good, and hath lifted him up from his low estate, and hath exalted his head: and many have wondered at him, and have glorified G.o.d.
11:14. Good things and evil, life and death, poverty and riches, are from G.o.d.
11:15. Wisdom and discipline, and the knowledge of the law are with G.o.d.
Love and the ways of good things are with him.
11:16. Error and darkness are created with sinners: and they that glory in evil things, grow old in evil.
11:17. The gift of G.o.d abideth with the just, and his advancement shall have success for ever.
11:18. There is one that is enriched by living sparingly, and this is the portion of his reward.
11:19. In that he saith: I have found me rest, and now I will eat of my goods alone:
11:20. And he knoweth not what time shall pa.s.s, and that death approacheth, and that he must leave all to others, and shall die.
11:21. Be steadfast in thy covenant, and be conversant therein, and grow old in the work of thy commandments.
11:22. Abide not in the works of sinners. But trust in G.o.d, and stay in thy place,
11:23. For it is easy in the eyes of G.o.d on a sudden to make the poor man rich.
11:24. The blessing of G.o.d maketh haste to reward the just, and in a swift hour his blessing beareth fruit.
11:25. Say not: What need I, and what good shall I have by this?
11:26. Say not: I am sufficient for myself: and what shall I be made worse by this?
11:27. In the day of good things be not unmindful of evils: and in the day of evils be not unmindful of good things:
11:28. For it is easy before G.o.d in the day of death to reward every one according to his ways.
11:29. The affliction of an hour maketh one forget great delights, and in the end of a man is the disclosing of his works.
11:30. Praise not any man before death, for a man is known by his children.
11:31. Bring not every man into thy house: for many are the snares of the deceitful.
11:32. For as corrupted bowels send forth stinking breath, and as the partridge is brought into the cage, and as the roe into the snare: so also is the heart of the proud, and as a spy that looketh on the fall of his neighbour.
11:33. For he lieth in wait and turneth good into evil, and on the elect he will lay a blot.
11:34. Of one spark cometh a great fire, and of one deceitful man much blood: and a sinful man lieth in wait for blood.
11:35. Take heed to thyself of a mischievous man, for he worketh evils: lest he bring upon thee reproach for ever.
11:36. Receive a stranger in, and he shall overthrow thee with a whirlwind, and shall turn thee out of thy own.
Ecclesiasticus Chapter 12
We are to be liberal to the just: and not to trust the wicked.
12:1. If thou do good, know to whom thou dost it, and there shall be much thanks for thy good deeds.
12:2. Do good to the just, and thou shalt find great recompense: and if not of him, a.s.suredly of the Lord.