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Bible - Book 26: Ecclesiasticus
Ecclesiasticus Chapter 11
Lessons of humility and moderation in all things.
11:1. The wisdom of the humble shall exalt his head, and shall make
him sit in the midst of great men.
11:2. Praise not a man for his beauty, neither despise a man for his
look.
11:3. The bee is small among flying things but her fruit hath the
chiefest sweetness.
11:4. Glory not in apparel at any time, and be not exalted in the day
of thy honour: for the works of the Highest only are wonderful, and
his works are glorious, and secret, and hidden.
11:5. Many tyrants have sat on the throne, and he whom no man would
think on, hath worn the crown.
11:6. Many mighty men have been greatly brought down, and the glorious
have been delivered into the hand of others.
11:7. Before thou inquire, blame no man: and when thou hast inquired,
reprove justly.
11:8. Before thou hear, answer not a word: and interrupt not others in
the midst of their discourse.
11:9. Strive not in a matter which doth not concern thee, and sit not
in judgment with sinners.
11:10. My son, meddle not with many matters: and if thou be rich, thou
shalt not be free from sin: for if thou pursue after thou shalt not
overtake; and if thou run before thou shalt not escape.
11:11. There is an ungodly man that laboureth, and maketh haste, and
is in sorrow, and is so much the more in want.
11:12. Again, there is an inactive man that wanteth help, is very weak
in ability, and full of poverty:
11:13. Yet the eye of God hath looked upon him for good, and hath
lifted him up from his low estate, and hath exalted his head: and many
have wondered at him, and have glorified God.
11:14. Good things and evil, life and death, poverty and riches, are
from God.
11:15. Wisdom and discipline, and the knowledge of the law are with
God. Love and the ways of good things are with him.
11:16. Error and darkness are created with sinners: and they that
glory in evil things, grow old in evil.
11:17. The gift of God abideth with the just, and his advancement
shall have success for ever.
11:18. There is one that is enriched by living sparingly, and this is
the portion of his reward.
11:19. In that he saith: I have found me rest, and now I will eat of
my goods alone:
11:20. And he knoweth not what time shall pass, and that death
approacheth, and that he must leave all to others, and shall die.
11:21. Be steadfast in thy covenant, and be conversant therein, and
grow old in the work of thy commandments.
11:22. Abide not in the works of sinners. But trust in God, and stay
in thy place,
11:23. For it is easy in the eyes of God on a sudden to make the poor
man rich.
11:24. The blessing of God maketh haste to reward the just, and in a
swift hour his blessing beareth fruit.
11:25. Say not: What need I, and what good shall I have by this?
11:26. Say not: I am sufficient for myself: and what shall I be made
worse by this?
11:27. In the day of good things be not unmindful of evils: and in the
day of evils be not unmindful of good things:
11:28. For it is easy before God in the day of death to reward every
one according to his ways.
11:29. The affliction of an hour maketh one forget great delights, and
in the end of a man is the disclosing of his works.
11:30. Praise not any man before death, for a man is known by his
children.
11:31. Bring not every man into thy house: for many are the snares of
the deceitful.
11:32. For as corrupted bowels send forth stinking breath, and as the
partridge is brought into the cage, and as the roe into the snare: so
also is the heart of the proud, and as a spy that looketh on the fall
of his neighbour.
11:33. For he lieth in wait and turneth good into evil, and on the
elect he will lay a blot.
11:34. Of one spark cometh a great fire, and of one deceitful man much
blood: and a sinful man lieth in wait for blood.
11:35. Take heed to thyself of a mischievous man, for he worketh
evils: lest he bring upon thee reproach for ever.
11:36. Receive a stranger in, and he shall overthrow thee with a
whirlwind, and shall turn thee out of thy own.