Sirach - Chapter 11

Passage

The wisdom of the humble shall exalt his head, and shall make him sit in the midst of great men. Praise not a man for his beauty, neither despise a man for his look. The bee is small among flying things but her fruit has the chiefest sweetness. Glory not in apparel at any time, and be not exalted in the day of your honor: for the works of the Highest only are wonderful, and his works are glorious, and secret, and hidden. Many tyrants have sat on the throne, and he whom no one would think on, has worn the crown. Many mighty men have been greatly brought down, and the glorious have been delivered into the hand of others. Before inquire, blame no one: and when you have inquired, reprove justly. Before hear, answer not a word: and interrupt not others in the midst of their discourse. Strive not in a matter which does not concern you, and sit not in judgment with sinners. My son, meddle not with many matters: and if you are rich, you shall not be free from sin: for if you pursue after you shall not overtake; and if you run before you shall not escape. There is an ungodly man that labors, and makes haste, and is in sorrow, and is so much the more in want. Again, there is an inactive man that wants help, is very weak in ability, and full of poverty: Yet the eye of God has looked upon him for good, and has lifted him up from his low estate, and has exalted his head: and many have wondered at him, and have glorified God. Good things and evil, life and death, poverty and riches, are from God. Wisdom and discipline, and the knowledge of the law are with God. Love and the ways of good things are with him. Error and darkness are created with sinners: and they that glory in evil things, grow old in evil. The gift of God abides with the just, and his advancement shall have success for ever. There is one that is enriched by living sparingly, and this is the portion of his reward. In that he says: I have found me rest, and now I will eat of my goods alone: And he does not know what time shall pass, and that death approaches, and that he must leave all to others, and shall die. Be steadfast in your covenant, and be conversant therein, and grow old in the work of your commandments. Abide not in the works of sinners. But trust in God, and stay in your place, For it is easy in the eyes of God on a sudden to make the poor man rich. The blessing of God makes haste to reward the just, and in a swift hour his blessing bears fruit. Say not: What need I, and what good shall I have by this? Say not: I am sufficient for myself: and what shall I be made worse by this? In the day of good things be not unmindful of evils: and in the day of evils be not unmindful of good things: For it is easy before God in the day of death to reward every one according to his ways. The affliction of an hour makes one forget great delights, and in the end of a man is the disclosing of his works. Praise not any man before death, for a man is known by his children. Bring not every man into your house: for many are the snares of the deceitful. 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 looks on the fall of his neighbor. For he lies in wait and turns good into evil, and on the elect he will lay a blot. Of one spark comes a great fire, and of one deceitful man much blood: and a sinful man lies in wait for blood. Take heed to yourself of a mischievous man, for he works evils: lest he bring upon you reproach for ever. Receive a stranger in, and he shall overthrow you with a whirlwind, and shall turn you out of your own.