Sirach chapter 10
[This chapter is in Orthodox and Catholic Bibles] Wisdom in relationships with rulers, continued. Pride is hateful to the LORD God. True glory is to fear God.
The Book of Sirach is recognized as Deuterocanonical Scripture by the Orthodox and Catholic Churches
WISDOM IN RELATIONSHIPS WITH RULERS, CONTINUED
VERSE 1. A wise judge will instruct his people; And the government of a man of understanding will be well ordered.
VERSE 2. As is the judge of his people, so are his ministers; And as is the ruler of the city, such are all those who dwell therein.
VERSE 3. An uninstructed king will destroy his people; And a city will be established through the understanding of the powerful.
An uninstructed king will destroy his people. In our day we often elect people to political leadership who are not qualified for the job.
VERSE 4. In the hand of the Lord is the authority of the earth; And in due time he will raise up over it one that is profitable.
VERSE 5. In the hand of the Lord is the prosperity of a man; And he will lay his honor upon the person of the scribe.
PRIDE IS HATEFUL TO THE LORD GOD
VERSE 6. Be not angry with your neighbor for every wrong; And do nothing by works of violence.
VERSE 7. Pride is hateful before the Lord and before men; And in the judgement of both will unrighteousness err.
Pride is hateful before the Lord. Human pride is odious to the LORD God.
VERSE 8. Sovereignty is transferred from nation to nation, Because of iniquities, and deeds of violence, and greed of money.
VERSE 9. Why is earth and ashes proud? Because in his life he has cast away his bowels.
Two lines of this verse are omitted in the best manuscripts.
VERSE 10. It is a long disease; the physician mocks: And he is a king today, and tomorrow he will die.
VERSE 11. For when a man is dead, He will inherit creeping things, and beasts, and worms.
VERSE 12. It is the beginning of pride when a man departs from the Lord; And his heart is departed from him that made him.
when a man departs from the Lord. Pride takes root within us because of our own stubbornness.
heart is departed from him that made him. Preachers often point to atheists as prideful. But that is not necessarily the case.
On the other hand, many Christian preachers are the most prideful of all people.
VERSE 13. For the beginning of pride is sin; And he that keeps it will pour forth abomination. For this cause the Lord brought upon them strange calamities, And overthrew them utterly.
VERSE 14. The Lord cast down the thrones of rulers, And set the meek in their stead.
VERSE 15. The Lord plucked up the roots of nations, And planted the lowly in their stead.
VERSE 16. The Lord overthrew the lands of nations, And destroyed them to the foundations of the earth.
VERSE 17. He took some of them away, and destroyed them, And made their memorial to cease from the earth.
VERSE 18. Pride has not been created for men, Nor wrathful anger for the offspring of women.
TRUE GLORY IS TO FEAR THE LORD GOD
VERSE 19. What manner of seed has honor? the seed of man. What manner of seed has honor? those who fear the Lord. What manner of seed has no honor? the seed of man. What manner of seed has no honor? those who transgress the commandments.
The manuscripts for this verse greatly differ. This rendering represents the most probable text.
VERSE 20. In the midst of kindred he that rules them has honor; And in the eyes of the Lord those who fear him.
VERSE 21.
This verse is omitted in the best manuscripts.
VERSE 22. The rich man, and the honorable, and the poor, Their glorying is the fear of the Lord.
VERSE 23. It is not right to dishonor a poor man that has understanding; And it is not fitting to glorify a man that is a sinner.
dishonor a poor man that has understanding. Some poor people are profoundly wise.
VERSE 24. The great man, and the judge, and the mighty man, will be glorified; And there is not one of them greater than he that fears the Lord.
NAB translation. The prince, the ruler, the judge are in honor; but none is greater than her who fears God.
not one of them greater than he that fears the Lord. The kingdom of God is egalitarian.
It is characterized by belief in equal political, economic, social, and civil rights for all people.
The greatest person is not the wealthiest or most powerful, but rather the people who are holy.
VERSE 25. Free men will minister to a wise servant; And a man that has knowledge will not murmur thereat.
VERSE 26. Be not over wise in doing your work; And glorify not yourself in the time of your distress.
VERSE 27. Better is he that labors, and abounds in all things, Than he that glorifies himself, and lacks bread.
The Greek text of this verse is uncertain.
VERSE 28. My son, glorify your soul in meekness, And give it honor according to the worthiness thereof.
NAB translation. My son, with humility have self-esteem; prize yourself as you deserve.
prize yourself as you deserve. The student of the Bible will gradually grow in self-esteem.
A healthy love of self is foundational to loving the LORD God and loving other people.
VERSE 29. Who will justify him that sins against his own soul? And who will glorify him that dishonors his own life?
VERSE 30. A poor man is glorified for his knowledge; And a rich man is glorified for his riches.
VERSE 31. But he that is glorified in poverty, how much more in riches? And he that is inglorious in riches, how much more in poverty?
SIRACH
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Chronology
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