Sirach
Chapter 10
The wise leader teaches his people; a government led by an intelligent person will be well-ordered.
As the leader is, so will his ministers be; as the ruler of the city is, so will its inhabitants be.
A king without wisdom will ruin his people; a city will prosper through the wisdom of its rulers.
The government of the earth is in the hands of the Lord; in his own time, he will raise up the right leader.
Human success is in the hands of the Lord, and he clothes the rulers with his glory.
Pride
Do not harbor resentment against your neighbor, regardless of his offense; do nothing out of anger.
Pride is detestable to both God and man; injustice is equally offensive to both.
Sovereignty shifts from one nation to another because of injustice, violence, and wealth.
How can there be such pride in someone who is merely dust and ashes? Even while alive, man’s insides are full of decay.
See: the sickness persists even as the doctor dismisses it, and one who is king today will die tomorrow.
Once a person is dead, his fate is to be devoured by grubs, insects, and worms.
The root of man’s pride begins with separating himself from the Lord and rebelling against his Creator.
The beginning of pride is sin. Whoever persists in sinning opens the floodgates to all that is evil. For this reason, the Lord has inflicted severe punishment on sinners; he has reduced them to nothing.
The Lord has overthrown the thrones of princes and installed the meek in their place.
The Lord has uprooted the proud and planted the humble in their stead.
The Lord has overturned the land of the pagans and completely destroyed them.
He has devastated many of them, destroyed them, and erased all memory of them from the earth.
Pride was not made for man, nor was violent anger meant for those born of woman.
The Value of Man
Which race deserves honor? The human race.Which race deserves honor? Those who fear the Lord. Which race is despicable? The human race. Which race is despicable? Those who break the commandments.
The leader deserves respect among his brothers, but he also respects those who fear the Lord.
…
Whether they are rich, honored, or poor, their pride should be in fearing the Lord.
It is wrong to despise the poor man who keeps the Law; it is inappropriate to honor the sinful man.
The leader, judge, and powerful man are worthy of honor, but no one is greater than the man who fears the Lord.
A wise slave will serve free men, and a sensible person will not complain.
Do not become prideful when you finish your work; do not boast when times are tough.
A man who works and lives in abundance is worth more than one who shows off but has nothing to sustain him.
My son, value yourself modestly; estimate yourself based on your true worth.
Who will defend a man who tries to take his own life? Who will respect a man who despises himself?
The poor man will be honored for his wisdom, and the rich for his wealth.
Honored when poor—how much more when rich! Disrespected when rich—how much more when poor!
Commentaries
Rulers.
The final part of this passage (10:4f) provides the key to understanding it: the governance of the city and the state must be carried out with the patience and skill that a craftsman uses to shape his work; a good craftsman creates beautiful works, and so does a good ruler; his nation serves as a model of a dignified and just society; but, ultimately, this is nothing more than a reflection of what God is, the Great Craftsman who has wisely shaped the world and governs it.
Pride.
In connection with the idea of never doing evil to one’s neighbor, the author explores the theme of pride, which arises from distancing oneself from God, others, and oneself; it can be viewed as a state of alienation. The author emphasizes that human beings are ultimately dust and ashes; therefore, one should not pretend to be superior to anyone else, much less feel above God. When someone adopts this attitude, they resemble a pit of insolence or a fountain that spews wicked plans (13); God humbles such a person to lift up the oppressed.
The Value of Man.
Honor and shame are the two extremes that define the life of ancient man. Honor was directly linked to power and wealth; the more wealth a person had, the more honor they received. Conversely, the more poverty someone experienced, the more shame they faced. Ben Sirach teaches that there is another way to determine these standings: respect for the Lord, which ultimately means accepting God’s plan and putting oneself at its service by following the Lord’s precepts.