Saltar a la lectura
Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 11
Sir
Home
›
Books of the Bible
›
Ecclesiasticus (Sirach)
›
Chapter 11
Do not go by appearances
1
The poor man’s wisdom keeps his head erect, and gives him a place with the great.
2
Do not praise a man for his good looks, nor dislike anybody for his appearance.
3
Small among winged creatures is the bee but her produce is the sweetest of the sweet.
4
Do not preen yourself on your fine clothes, nor be swollen headed on your day of glory; for the Lord’s deeds are marvellous, though hidden from mankind.
5
Many monarchs have been made to sit on the ground, and the man nobody thought of has worn the crown.
6
Many influential men have been utterly disgraced, and prominent men have fallen into the power of others.
Deliberation and reflection
7
Do not find fault before making thorough inquiry; first reflect, then give a reprimand.
8
Listen before you answer, and do not interrupt a speech in the middle.
9
Do not wrangle about something that does not concern you, nor interfere in the squabbles of sinners.
10
My son, do not take on a great amount of business; if you multiply your interests, you are bound to suffer for it; hurry as fast as you can, yet you will never arrive, nor will you escape by running away.
11
A man labours and toils and forges ahead, only to find himself the more out-distanced.
Trust in God alone
12
Another man is a poor creature begging for assistance, badly off for support, but rich in poverty, and the Lord turns a favourable eye on him, sets him on his feet out of his abject condition,
13
and enables him to hold his head high, to the utter amazement of many.
14
Good and bad, life and death, poverty and wealth, all come from the Lord.
17
The Lord’s gift remains constant to the devout, and his goodwill means a good journey for ever.
18
A man grows rich by his sharpness and grabbing, and here is the reward he receives. for it:
19
he says, ‘I have found rest, and now I can enjoy my goods’; but he does not know how long this will last; he will have to leave his goods for others and die.
20
Persevere at your duty, take pleasure in doing it, and grow old at your work.
21
Do not be astonished at the sinner’s achievements; trust the Lord and keep to your duty; since it is a trifle in the eyes of the Lord, in a moment, suddenly to make a poor man rich.
22
The devout man receives the Lord’s blessing as his reward, in a moment God brings his blessing to flower.
23
Do not say, ‘What are my needs, what will be my profits in future?’
24
And do not say, ‘I am self-supporting, what losses can I suffer in future?’
25
In a time of profit, losses are forgotten, and in a time of loss, no one remembers profits.
26
Yet it is a trifle for the Lord on the day a man dies to repay him as his conduct deserves.
27
A moment’s adversity, and pleasures are forgotten; in a man’s last hour his deeds will stand revealed.
28
Call no man fortunate before his death; it is by his end that a man will be known.
Distrust the wicked
29
Do not bring every man home with you, for many are the traps of the crafty.
30
Like a decoy partridge in a basket, such is the proud man’s heart; like a spy he watches for your downfall.
31
The slanderer twists good into evil, will cast a slur on what deserves most praise.
32
A hearthful of glowing coals starts from a single spark, and the sinner lurks for the chance to spill blood.
33
Beware of a scoundrel and his evil contrivances, in case he puts a smear on you for ever.
34
Bring a stranger home with you and he will start trouble, and estrange you from your own family.
Chapters of Ecclesiasticus (Sirach)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
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
52
Home
Search
Readings
Settings