Sirach · King James Version (with Apocrypha)
Sirach 11 King James Version (with Apocrypha)
Sirach is not in RV1909.
1 Wisdom lifteth up the head of him that is of low degree, and maketh him to sit among great men.
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2 Commend not a man for his beauty; neither abhor a man for his outward appearance.
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3 The bee is little among such as fly; but her fruit is the chief of sweet things.
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4 Boast 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.
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5 Many kings have sat down upon the ground; and one that was never thought of hath worn the crown.
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6 Many mighty men have been greatly disgraced; and the honourable delivered into other men’s hands.
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7 Blame not before thou hast examined the truth: understand first, and then rebuke.
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8 Answer not before thou hast heard the cause: neither interrupt men in the midst of their talk.
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9 Strive not in a matter that concerneth thee not; and sit not in judgment with sinners.
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10 My 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.
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11 There is one that laboureth, and taketh pains, and maketh haste, and is so much the more behind.
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12 Again, 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,
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13 And lifted up his head from misery; so that many that saw it marvelled at him.
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14 Prosperity and adversity, life and death, poverty and riches, come of the Lord.
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15 Wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of the law, are of the Lord: love, and the way of good works, are from him.
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16 Error and darkness had their beginning together with sinners: and evil shall wax old with them that glory therein.
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17 The gift of the Lord remaineth with the ungodly, and his favour bringeth prosperity for ever.
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18 There is that waxeth rich by his wariness and pinching, and this is the portion of his reward:
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19 Whereas 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.
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20 Be stedfast in thy covenant, and be conversant therein, and wax old in thy work.
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21 Marvel 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.
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22 The blessing of the Lord is in the reward of the godly, and suddenly he maketh his blessing flourish.
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23 Say not, What profit is there of my service? and what good things shall I have hereafter?
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24 Again, say not, I have enough, and possess many things, and what evil shall I have hereafter?
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25 In the day of prosperity there is a forgetfulness of affliction: and in the day of affliction there is no more remembrance of prosperity.
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26 For it is an easy thing unto the Lord in the day of death to reward a man according to his ways.
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27 The affliction of an hour maketh a man forget pleasure: and in his end his deeds shall be discovered.
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28 Judge none blessed before his death: for a man shall be known in his children.
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29 Bring not every man into thine house: for the deceitful man hath many trains.
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30 Like 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:
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31 For he lieth in wait, and turneth good into evil, and in things worthy praise will lay blame upon thee.
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32 Of a spark of fire a heap of coals is kindled: and a sinful man layeth wait for blood.
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33 Take heed of a mischievous man, for he worketh wickedness; lest he bring upon thee a perpetual blot.
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34 Receive a stranger into thine house, and he will disturb thee, and turn thee out of thine own.
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What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
Only do not thou feel secure in praising any sort of life: "judge no man blessed before his death."
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)