Sirach 10 Clementine Vulgate
1 [Judex sapiens judicabit populum suum, et principatus sensati stabilis erit.
1 A wise judge will instruct his people. The government of a man of understanding will be well ordered.
2 Secundum judicem populi, sic et ministri ejus: et qualis rector est civitatis, tales et inhabitantes in ea.
2 As is the judge of his people, so are his officials. As the city’s ruler is, so are all those who dwell in it.
3 Rex insipiens perdet populum suum: et civitates inhabitabuntur per sensum potentium.
3 An undisciplined king will destroy his people. A city will be established through the understanding of the powerful.
4 In manu Dei potestas terræ: et utilem rectorem suscitabit in tempus super illam.
4 The government of the earth is in the Lord’s hand. In due time, he will raise up over it the right person at the right time.
5 In manu Dei prosperitas hominis, et super faciem scribæ imponet honorem suum.]
5 A man’s prosperity is in the Lord’s hand. He will lay his honor upon the person of the scribe.
6 [Omnis injuriæ proximi ne memineris, et nihil agas in operibus injuriæ.
6 Don’t be angry with your neighbor for every wrong. Do nothing by works of violence.
7 Odibilis coram Deo est et hominibus superbia, et execrabilis omnis iniquitas gentium.
7 Pride is hateful before the Lord and men. Arrogance is abhorrent in the judgment of both.
8 Regnum a gente in gentem transfertur propter injustitias, et injurias, et contumelias, et diversos dolos.
8 Sovereignty is transferred from nation to nation because of injustice, violence, and greed for money.
9 Avaro autem nihil est scelestius. Quid superbit terra et cinis?
9 Why are dirt and ashes proud? Because in life, my body decays.
10 Nihil est iniquius quam amare pecuniam: hic enim et animam suam venalem habet, quoniam in vita sua projecit intima sua.
10 A long disease mocks the physician. The king of today will die tomorrow.
11 Omnis potentatus brevis vita; languor prolixior gravat medicum.
11 For when a man is dead, he will inherit maggots, vermin, and worms.
12 Brevem languorem præcidit medicus: sic et rex hodie est, et cras morietur.
12 It is the beginning of pride when a man departs from the Lord. His heart has departed from him who made him.
13 Cum enim morietur homo, hæreditabit serpentes, et bestias, et vermes.
13 For the beginning of pride is sin. He who keeps it will pour out abomination. For this cause the Lord brought upon them strange calamities and utterly overthrew them.
14 Initium superbiæ hominis apostatare a Deo:
14 The Lord cast down the thrones of rulers and set the lowly in their place.
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.
15 The Lord plucked up the roots of nations and planted the lowly in their place.
16 Propterea exhonoravit Dominus conventus malorum, et destruxit eos usque in finem.
16 The Lord overthrew the lands of nations and destroyed them to the foundations of the earth.
17 Sedes ducum superborum destruxit Deus, et sedere fecit mites pro eis.
17 He took some of them away and destroyed them, and made their memory to cease from the earth.
18 Radices gentium superbarum arefecit Deus, et plantavit humiles ex ipsis gentibus.
18 Pride has not been created for men, nor wrathful anger for the offspring of women.
19 Terras gentium evertit Dominus, et perdidit eas usque ad fundamentum.
19 Whose offspring has honor? Human offspring who fear the Lord. Whose offspring has no honor? Human offspring who break the commandments.
20 Arefecit ex ipsis, et disperdidit eos, et cessare fecit memoriam eorum a terra.
20 In the midst of kindred he who rules them has honor. Those who fear the Lord have honor in his eyes.
21 Memoria superborum perdidit Deus, et reliquit memoriam humilium sensu.
21 Not in this translation
22 Non est creata hominibus superbia, neque iracundia nationi mulierum.]
22 The rich man, the honorable, and the poor all glory in the fear of the Lord.
23 [Semen hominum honorabitur hoc, quod timet Deum: semen autem hoc exhonorabitur, quod præterit mandata Domini.
23 It is not right to dishonor a poor man who has understanding. It is not fitting to glorify a man who is a sinner.
24 In medio fratrum rector illorum in honore: et qui timent Dominum erunt in oculis illius.
24 The prince, the judge, and the mighty man will be honored. There is not one of them greater than he who fears the Lord.
25 Gloria divitum, honoratorum, et pauperum, timor Dei est.
25 Free men will minister to a wise servant. A man who has knowledge will not complain.
26 Noli despicere hominem justum pauperem, et noli magnificare virum peccatorem divitem.
26 Don’t flaunt your wisdom in doing your work. Don’t boast in the time of your distress.
27 Magnus, et judex, et potens est in honore: et non est major illo qui timet Deum.
27 Better is he who labors and abounds in all things, than he who boasts and lacks bread.
28 Servo sensato liberi servient: et vir prudens et disciplinatus non murmurabit correptus, et inscius non honorabitur.
28 My son, glorify your soul in humility, and ascribe to yourself honor according to your worthiness.
29 Noli extollere te in faciendo opere tuo, et noli cunctari in tempore angustiæ.
29 Who will justify him who sins against his own soul? Who will honor him who dishonors his own life?
30 Melior est qui operatur et abundat in omnibus, quam qui gloriatur et eget pane.
30 A poor man is honored for his knowledge. A rich man is honored for his riches.
31 Fili, in mansuetudine serva animam tuam, et da illi honorem secundum meritum suum.
31 But he who is honored in poverty, how much more in riches? He who is dishonored in riches, how much more in poverty?
32 Peccantem in animam suam quis justificabit? et quis honorificabit exhonorantem animam suam?
32 Not in this translation
33 Pauper gloriatur per disciplinam et timorem suum: et est homo qui honorificatur propter substantiam suam.
33 Not in this translation
34 Qui autem gloriatur in paupertate, quanto magis in substantia ! et qui gloriatur in substantia, paupertatem vereatur.]
34 Not in this translation
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)