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Sirach 11, RSV

11:1 The wisdom of a humble man will lift up his head, and will seat him among the great.

11:2 Do not praise a man for his good looks, nor loathe a man because of his appearance.

11:3 The bee is small among flying creatures, but her product is the best of sweet things.

11:4 Do not boast about wearing fine clothes, nor exalt yourself in the day that you are honored; for the works of the Lord are wonderful, and his works are concealed from men.

11:5 Many kings have had to sit on the ground, but one who was never thought of has worn a crown.

11:6 Many rulers have been greatly disgraced, and illustrious men have been handed over to others.

11:7 Do not find fault before you investigate; first consider, and then reprove.

11:8 Do not answer before you have heard, nor interrupt a speaker in the midst of his words.

11:9 Do not argue about a matter which does not concern you, nor sit with sinners when they judge a case.

11:10 My son, do not busy yourself with many matters; if you multiply activities you will not go unpunished, and if you pursue you will not overtake, and by fleeing you will not escape.

11:11 There is a man who works, and toils, and presses on, but is so much the more in want.

11:12 There is another who is slow and needs help, who lacks strength and abounds in poverty; but the eyes of the Lord look upon him for his good; he lifts him out of his low estate

11:13 and raises up his head, so that many are amazed at him.

11:14 Good things and bad, life and death, poverty and wealth, come from the Lord.

11:17 The gift of the Lord endures for those who are godly, and what he approves will have lasting success.

11:18 There is a man who is rich through his diligence and self-denial, and this is the reward allotted to him:

11:19 when he says, "I have found rest, and now I shall enjoy my goods!" he does not know how much time will pass until he leaves them to others and dies.

11:20 Stand by your covenant and attend to it, and grow old in your work.

11:21 Do not wonder at the works of a sinner, but trust in the Lord and keep at your toil; for it is easy in the sight of the Lord to enrich a poor man quickly and suddenly.

11:22 The blessing of the Lord is the reward of the godly, and quickly God causes his blessing to flourish.

11:23 Do not say, "What do I need, and what prosperity could be mine in the future?"

11:24 Do not say, "I have enough, and what calamity could happen to me in the future?"

11:25 In the day of prosperity, adversity is forgotten, and in the day of adversity, prosperity is not remembered.

11:26 For it is easy in the sight of the Lord to reward a man on the day of death according to his conduct.

11:27 The misery of an hour makes one forget luxury, and at the close of a man's life his deeds will be revealed.

11:28 Call no one happy before his death; a man will be known through his children.

11:29 Do not bring every man into your home, for many are the wiles of the crafty.

11:30 Like a decoy partridge in a cage, so is the mind of a proud man, and like a spy he observes your weakness;

11:31 for he lies in wait, turning good into evil, and to worthy actions he will attach blame.

11:32 From a spark of fire come many burning coals, and a sinner lies in wait to shed blood.

11:33 Beware of a scoundrel, for he devises evil, lest he give you a lasting blemish.

11:34 Receive a stranger into your home and he will upset you with commotion, and will estrange you from your family.

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