Ben Sira 10:11-20

11 For when a man is dead, he will inherit creeping things, and wild beasts, and worms.
12 The beginning of man's pride is to depart from the Lord; his heart has forsaken his Maker.
13 For the beginning of pride is sin, and the man who clings to it pours out abominations. Therefore the Lord brought upon them extraordinary afflictions, and destroyed them utterly.
14 The Lord has cast down the thrones of rulers, and has seated the lowly in their place.
15 The Lord has plucked up the roots of the nations, and has planted the humble in their place.
16 The Lord has overthrown the lands of the nations, and has destroyed them to the foundations of the earth.
17 He has removed some of them and destroyed them, and has extinguished the memory of them from the earth.
18 Pride was not created for men, nor fierce anger for those born of women.
19 What race is worthy of honor? The human race. What race is worthy of honor? Those who fear the Lord. What race is unworthy of honor? The human race. What race is unworthy of honor? Those who transgress the commandments.
20 Among brothers their leader is worthy of honor, and those who fear the Lord are worthy of honor in his eyes.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.