Ecclesiasticus (Sirach)

11:1 Wisedome lifteth vp the head of him that is of low degree, and maketh him to sit among great men.

11:1 Wisdom lifteth up the head of him that is of low degree, and maketh him to sit among great men.

11:2 Commend not a man for his beautie, neither abhorre a man for his outward appearance.

11:2 Commend not a man for his beauty; neither abhor a man for his outward appearance.

11:3 The Bee is little among such as flie, but her fruite is the chiefe of sweete things.

11:3 The bee is little among such as fly; but her fruit is the chief of sweet things.

11:4 Boast not of thy cloathing and raiment, and exalt not thy selfe in the day of honour: for the workes of the Lord are wonderfull, and his workes among men are hidden.

11:4 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.

11:5 Many kings haue sit downe vpon the ground, and one that was neuer thought of, hath worne the crowne.

11:5 Many kings have sat down upon the ground; and one that was never thought of hath worn the crown.

11:6 Many mightie men haue beene greatly disgraced: and the honourable deliuered into other mens hands.

11:6 Many mighty men have been greatly disgraced; and the honourable delivered into other men's hands.

11:7 Blame not before thou hast examined the trueth: vnderstand first, and then rebuke.

11:7 Blame not before thou hast examined the truth: understand first, and then rebuke.

11:8 Answere not, before thou hast heard the cause: neither interrupt men in the midst of their talke.

11:8 Answer not before thou hast heard the cause: neither interrupt men in the midst of their talk.

11:9 Striue not in a matter that concerneth thee not: and sit not in iudgement with sinners.

11:9 Strive not in a matter that concerneth thee not; and sit not in judgment with sinners.

11:10 My sonne, meddle not with many matters: for if thou meddle much, thou shalt not be innocent: and if thou follow after, thou shalt not obtaine, neither shalt thou escape by flying.

11:10 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.

11:11 There is one that laboureth and taketh paines, and maketh haste, and is so much the more behinde.

11:11 There is one that laboureth, and taketh pains, and maketh haste, and is so much the more behind.

11:12 Againe, there is another that is slow, and hath neede of helpe, wanting abilitie, and full of pouertie, yet the eye of the Lord looked vpon him for good, and set him vp from his low estate,

11:12 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,

11:13 And lifted vp his head from miserie, so that many that saw it, marueiled at him.

11:13 And lifted up his head from misery; so that many that saw from him is peace over all the

11:14 Prosperitie and aduersitie, life and death, pouerty and riches, come of the Lord.

11:14 Prosperity and adversity, life and death, poverty and riches, come of the Lord.

11:15 Wisedome, knowledge, and vnderstanding of the Lawe, are of the Lord: loue, & the way of good workes, are from him.

11:15 Wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of the law, are of the Lord: love, and the way of good works, are from him.

11:16 Errour and darkenesse had their beginning together with sinners: and euill shall waxe old with them that glory therein.

11:16 Error and darkness had their beginning together with sinners: and evil shall wax old with them that glory therein.

11:17 The gift of the Lord remaineth with the godly, and his fauour bringeth prosperitie for euer.

11:17 The gift of the Lord remaineth with the ungodly, and his favour bringeth prosperity for ever.

11:18 There is that waxeth rich by his warinesse, and pinching, and this is the portion of his reward:

11:18 There is that waxeth rich by his wariness and pinching, and this his the portion of his reward:

11:19 Whereas he sayth, I haue found rest, and now will eate continually of my goods, and [yet] hee knoweth not what time shall come vpon him, and that hee must leaue those things to others, and die.

11:19 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.

11:20 Be stedfast in thy couenant, and be conuersant therein, and waxe olde in thy worke.

11:20 Be stedfast in thy covenant, and be conversant therein, and wax old in thy work.

11:21 Marueile not at the workes of sinners, but trust in the Lord, and abide in thy labour: for it is an easie thing in the sight of the Lord, on the sudden to make a poore man rich.

11:21 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.

11:22 The blessing of the Lord is in the reward of the godly, and suddenly he maketh his blessing to flourish.

11:22 The blessing of the Lord is in the reward of the godly, and suddenly he maketh his blessing flourish.

11:23 Say not, what profit is there of my seruice? and what good things shal I haue hereafter?

11:23 Say not, What profit is there of my service? and what good things shall I have hereafter?

11:24 Againe, say not, I haue enough, and possesse many things; and what euill can come to me hereafter?

11:24 Again, say not, I have enough, and possess many things, and what evil shall I have hereafter?

11:25 In the day of prosperitie, there is a forgetfulnesse of affliction: and in the day of affliction, there is no remembrance of prosperitie.

11:25 In the day of prosperity there is a forgetfulness of affliction: and in the day of affliction there is no more remembrance of prosperity.

11:26 For it is an easie thing vnto the Lord in the day of death, to reward a man according to his wayes.

11:26 For it is an easy thing unto the Lord in the day of death to reward a man according to his ways.

11:27 The affliction of an houre, maketh a man forget pleasure: and in his end, his deeds shalbe discouered.

11:27 The affliction of an hour maketh a man forget pleasure: and in his end his deeds shall be discovered.

11:28 Iudge none blessed before his death: for a man shall bee knowen in his children.

11:28 Judge none blessed before his death: for a man shall be known in his children.

11:29 Bring not euery man into thine house, for the deceitfull man hath many traines.

11:29 Bring not every man into thine house: for the deceitful man hath many trains.

11:30 Like as a Partrich taken [and kept] in a cage, so is the heart of the proud; and like as a spie, watcheth hee for thy fall.

11:30 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:

11:31 For hee lieth in wait, and turneth good into euill, and in things worthy praise, will lay blame vpon thee.

11:31 For he lieth in wait, and turneth good into evil, and in things worthy praise will lay blame upon thee.

11:32 Of a sparke of fire, a heape of coales is kindled: and a sinnefull man layeth waite for blood.

11:32 Of a spark of fire a heap of coals is kindled: and a sinful man layeth wait for blood.

11:33 Take heed of a mischieuous man, (for hee worketh wickednesse) lest hee bring vpon thee a perpetuall blot.

11:33 Take heed of a mischievous man, for he worketh wickedness; lest he bring upon thee a perpetual blot.

11:34 Receiue a stranger into thine house, and hee will disturbe thee, and turne thee out of thine owne.

11:34 Receive a stranger into thine house, and he will disturb thee, and turn thee out of thine own.