Ben Sira 10:10-20

10 A long illness puzzles the doctor. Even a king may be alive today and dead tomorrow.
11 When a person dies, all he then possesses is worms, flies, and maggots.
12 Pride has its beginning when a person abandons the Lord, his maker.
13 Pride is like a fountain pouring out sin, and whoever persists in it will be full of wickedness. That is why the Lord brought terrible punishments on some people and completely destroyed them.
14 The Lord has overthrown kings and put humbler people in their place. 1
15 The Lord has pulled up nations by the roots and established humbler ones in their place.
16 The Lord has overthrown empires and completely devastated their lands.
17 He destroyed some so completely that they are not even remembered any more.
18 The Creator never intended for human beings to be arrogant and violent.
19 Who deserves honor? The human race does, because people fear the Lord. Who does not deserve honor? The human race does not, because people break the Lord's commands.
20 A leader should be honored by those who follow him, and the Lord honors those who fear him.

Cross References 1

  • 1. 10.14 1 S 2.8;Luke 1.52.

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. A long . . . doctor; [this sentence in both Greek and Hebrew is unclear.]
  • [b]. [Some manuscripts add verse 21:] Success begins with fear of the Lord, but failure begins with stubbornness and arrogance.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.