1 [Judex sapiens judicabit populum suum, et principatus sensati stabilis erit. 2 Secundum judicem populi, sic et ministri ejus: et qualis rector est civitatis, tales et inhabitantes in ea. 3 Rex insipiens perdet populum suum: et civitates inhabitabuntur per sensum potentium. 4 In manu Dei potestas terræ: et utilem rectorem suscitabit in tempus super illam. 5 In manu Dei prosperitas hominis, et super faciem scribæ imponet honorem suum.] 6 [Omnis injuriæ proximi ne memineris, et nihil agas in operibus injuriæ. 7 Odibilis coram Deo est et hominibus superbia, et execrabilis omnis iniquitas gentium. 8 Regnum a gente in gentem transfertur propter injustitias, et injurias, et contumelias, et diversos dolos. 9 Avaro autem nihil est scelestius. Quid superbit terra et cinis? 10 Nihil est iniquius quam amare pecuniam: hic enim et animam suam venalem habet, quoniam in vita sua projecit intima sua. 11 Omnis potentatus brevis vita; languor prolixior gravat medicum. 12 Brevem languorem præcidit medicus: sic et rex hodie est, et cras morietur. 13 Cum enim morietur homo, hæreditabit serpentes, et bestias, et vermes. 14 Initium superbiæ hominis apostatare a Deo: 15 quoniam ab eo qui fecit illum recessit cor ejus, quoniam initium omnis peccati est superbia. Qui tenuerit illam adimplebitur maledictis, et subvertet eum in finem. 16 Propterea exhonoravit Dominus conventus malorum, et destruxit eos usque in finem. 17 Sedes ducum superborum destruxit Deus, et sedere fecit mites pro eis. 18 Radices gentium superbarum arefecit Deus, et plantavit humiles ex ipsis gentibus. 19 Terras gentium evertit Dominus, et perdidit eas usque ad fundamentum. 20 Arefecit ex ipsis, et disperdidit eos, et cessare fecit memoriam eorum a terra. 21 Memoria superborum perdidit Deus, et reliquit memoriam humilium sensu. 22 Non est creata hominibus superbia, neque iracundia nationi mulierum.] 23 [Semen hominum honorabitur hoc, quod timet Deum: semen autem hoc exhonorabitur, quod præterit mandata Domini. 24 In medio fratrum rector illorum in honore: et qui timent Dominum erunt in oculis illius. 25 Gloria divitum, honoratorum, et pauperum, timor Dei est. 26 Noli despicere hominem justum pauperem, et noli magnificare virum peccatorem divitem. 27 Magnus, et judex, et potens est in honore: et non est major illo qui timet Deum. 28 Servo sensato liberi servient: et vir prudens et disciplinatus non murmurabit correptus, et inscius non honorabitur. 29 Noli extollere te in faciendo opere tuo, et noli cunctari in tempore angustiæ. 30 Melior est qui operatur et abundat in omnibus, quam qui gloriatur et eget pane. 31 Fili, in mansuetudine serva animam tuam, et da illi honorem secundum meritum suum. 32 Peccantem in animam suam quis justificabit? et quis honorificabit exhonorantem animam suam? 33 Pauper gloriatur per disciplinam et timorem suum: et est homo qui honorificatur propter substantiam suam. 34 Qui autem gloriatur in paupertate, quanto magis in substantia ! et qui gloriatur in substantia, paupertatem vereatur.]
Sirach 10 Clementine Vulgate
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).
Nor ought blessedness to begin at any other point whatever, if indeed it is to attain unto the highest wisdom; "but the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;" for, on the other hand also, "pride" is entitled "the beginning of all sin." Let the proud, therefore, seek after and love the kingdoms of the earth; but "blessed …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
Let him hear it said to him, "Why is earth and ashes proud?" Even if the devil is proud, he is not "earth and ashes." Therefore was it said, "But ye shall die like men, and shall fall as one of the princes." Ye do not consider that ye are mortals, and ye are proud as the devil.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
That his earth has reference to the inner man, and that man is cast forth thence by pride, may be particularly seen in that which is written, "Why is earth and ashes proud? Because, in his life, he cast forth his bowels." For, whence he hath been cast forth, he is not unreasonably said to have cast forth himself.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)