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Sirach 11

1Wisdom lifteth up the head of him that is of low degree, and maketh him to sit among great men.
1The wisdom of the lowly will lift up his head, and make him sit in the midst of great men.
2Commend not a man for his beauty; neither abhor a man for his outward appearance.
2Don’t commend a man for his good looks. Don’t abhor a man for his outward appearance.
3The bee is little among such as fly; but her fruit is the chief of sweet things.
3The bee is little among flying creatures, but what it produces is the best of confections.
4Boast not of thy clothing and raiment, and exalt not thyself in the day of honour: for the works of the Lord are wonderful, and his works among men are hidden.
4Don’t boast about the clothes you wear, and don’t exalt yourself in the day of honor; for the Lord’s works are wonderful, and his works are hidden among men.
5Many kings have sat down upon the ground; and one that was never thought of hath worn the crown.
5Many kings have sat down upon the ground, but one who was never thought of has worn a crown.
6Many mighty men have been greatly disgraced; and the honourable delivered into other men’s hands.
6Many mighty men have been greatly disgraced. Men of renown have been delivered into other men’s hands.
7Blame not before thou hast examined the truth: understand first, and then rebuke.
7Don’t blame before you investigate. Understand first, and then rebuke.
8Answer not before thou hast heard the cause: neither interrupt men in the midst of their talk.
8Don’t answer before you have heard. Don’t interrupt while someone else is speaking.
9Strive not in a matter that concerneth thee not; and sit not in judgment with sinners.
9Don’t argue about a matter that doesn’t concern you. Don’t sit with sinners when they judge.
10My son, meddle not with many matters: for if thou meddle much, thou shalt not be innocent; and if thou follow after, thou shalt not obtain, neither shalt thou escape by fleeing.
10My son, don’t be busy about many matters; for if you meddle much, you will not be unpunished. If you pursue, you will not overtake, and you will not escape by fleeing.
11There is one that laboureth, and taketh pains, and maketh haste, and is so much the more behind.
11There is one who toils, labors, and hurries, and is even more behind.
12Again, there is another that is slow, and hath need of help, wanting ability, and full of poverty; yet the eye of the Lord looked upon him for good, and set him up from his low estate,
12There is one who is sluggish, and needs help, lacking in strength, and who abounds in poverty, but the Lord’s eyes looked upon him for good, and he raised him up from his low condition,
13And lifted up his head from misery; so that many that saw it marvelled at him.
13and lifted up his head so that many marveled at him.
14Prosperity and adversity, life and death, poverty and riches, come of the Lord.
14Good things and bad, life and death, poverty and riches, are from the Lord.
15Wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of the law, are of the Lord: love, and the way of good works, are from him.

15Not in World English Bible

16Error and darkness had their beginning together with sinners: and evil shall wax old with them that glory therein.

16Not in World English Bible

17The gift of the Lord remaineth with the ungodly, and his favour bringeth prosperity for ever.
17The Lord’s gift remains with the godly. His good pleasure will prosper forever.
18There is that waxeth rich by his wariness and pinching, and this is the portion of his reward:
18One grows rich by his diligence and self-denial, and this is the portion of his reward:
19Whereas he saith, I have found rest, and now will eat continually of my goods; and yet he knoweth not what time shall come upon him, and that he must leave those things to others, and die.
19when he says, “I have found rest, and now I will eat of my goods!” he doesn’t know how much time will pass until he leaves them to others and dies.
20Be stedfast in thy covenant, and be conversant therein, and wax old in thy work.
20Be steadfast in your covenant and be doing it, and grow old in your work.
21Marvel not at the works of sinners; but trust in the Lord, and abide in thy labour: for it is an easy thing in the sight of the Lord on the sudden to make a poor man rich.
21Don’t marvel at the works of a sinner, but trust the Lord and stay in your labor; for it is an easy thing in the sight of the Lord to swiftly and suddenly make a poor man rich.
22The blessing of the Lord is in the reward of the godly, and suddenly he maketh his blessing flourish.
22The Lord’s blessing is in the reward of the godly. He makes his blessing flourish in an hour that comes swiftly.
23Say not, What profit is there of my service? and what good things shall I have hereafter?
23Don’t say, “What use is there of me? What further good things can be mine?”
24Again, say not, I have enough, and possess many things, and what evil shall I have hereafter?
24Don’t say, “I have enough. What harm could happen to me now?”
25In the day of prosperity there is a forgetfulness of affliction: and in the day of affliction there is no more remembrance of prosperity.
25In the day of good things, bad things are forgotten. In the day of bad things, a man will not remember things that are good.
26For it is an easy thing unto the Lord in the day of death to reward a man according to his ways.
26For it is an easy thing in the sight of the Lord to reward a man in the day of death according to his ways.
27The affliction of an hour maketh a man forget pleasure: and in his end his deeds shall be discovered.
27The affliction of an hour causes delights to be forgotten. In the end, a man’s deeds are revealed.
28Judge none blessed before his death: for a man shall be known in his children.
28Call no man happy before his death. A man will be known in his children.
29Bring not every man into thine house: for the deceitful man hath many trains.
29Don’t bring every man into your house, for many are the tricks of a deceitful man.
30Like as a partridge taken and kept in a cage, so is the heart of the proud; and like as a spy, watcheth he for thy fall:
30Like a decoy partridge in a cage, so is the heart of a proud man. Like a spy, he looks for your weakness.
31For he lieth in wait, and turneth good into evil, and in things worthy praise will lay blame upon thee.
31For he lies in wait to turn things that are good into evil, and assigns blame in things that are praiseworthy.
32Of a spark of fire a heap of coals is kindled: and a sinful man layeth wait for blood.
32From a spark of fire, a heap of many coals is kindled, and a sinful man lies in wait to shed blood.
33Take heed of a mischievous man, for he worketh wickedness; lest he bring upon thee a perpetual blot.
33Take heed of an evil-doer, for he plans wicked things, lest perhaps he ruin your reputation forever.
34Receive a stranger into thine house, and he will disturb thee, and turn thee out of thine own.
34Receive a stranger into your house, and he will distract you with arguments and estrange you from your own family.