Ben Sira 11:11-21

11 For instance, here is someone who never stops working like a slave, but gets further behind all the time.
12 On the other hand, someone else may be very poor and not up to his task. He may be slow, and he may need help, but the Lord is pleased with him and pulls him out of his bad situation.
13 When he is back on his feet again, everyone is astounded.
14 Everything comes from the Lord: success and failure, poverty and wealth, life and death.
15 Wisdom, understanding, knowledge of the Law, love, and the doing of good deeds - all these come from the Lord.
16 Error and darkness have been with sinners from the beginning, and those who enjoy evil will have it with them into their old age.
17 The Lord's gifts to religious people are gifts that endure. If he approves of you, you will always be successful.
18 Someone may grow rich by working hard and denying himself pleasure, but what does he get for it? 1
19 He says to himself, "Now I can finally sit back and enjoy what I have worked for." But he has no idea how long it will be before he must die and leave his wealth to others.
20 Stand by your duty and stick to it; grow old at your work.
21 Don't be jealous of what sinners achieve; just stick to your own work, and trust the Lord. It is very easy for the Lord to make a poor person suddenly rich.

Cross References 1

  • 1. 11.18, 19Psalms 49.10;Luke 12.16-21.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.