- 1
A wise judge will instruct his people. The government of a man of understanding will be well ordered.
- 2
As is the judge of his people, so are his officials. As the city’s ruler is, so are all those who dwell in it.
- 3
An undisciplined king will destroy his people. A city will be established through the understanding of the powerful.
- 4
The government of the earth is in the Lord’s hand. In due time, he will raise up over it the right person at the right time.
- 5
A man’s prosperity is in the Lord’s hand. He will lay his honor upon the person of the scribe.
- 6
Don’t be angry with your neighbor for every wrong. Do nothing by works of violence.
- 7
Pride is hateful before the Lord and men. Arrogance is abhorrent in the judgment of both.
- 8
Sovereignty is transferred from nation to nation because of injustice, violence, and greed for money.
- 9
Why are dirt and ashes proud? Because in life, my body decays.
- 10
A long disease mocks the physician. The king of today will die tomorrow.
- 11
For when a man is dead, he will inherit maggots, vermin, and worms.
- 12
It is the beginning of pride when a man departs from the Lord. His heart has departed from him who made him.
- 13
For the beginning of pride is sin. He who keeps it will pour out abomination. For this cause the Lord brought upon them strange calamities and utterly overthrew them.
- 14
The Lord cast down the thrones of rulers and set the lowly in their place.
- 15
The Lord plucked up the roots of nations and planted the lowly in their place.
- 16
The Lord overthrew the lands of nations and destroyed them to the foundations of the earth.
- 17
He took some of them away and destroyed them, and made their memory to cease from the earth.
- 18
Pride has not been created for men, nor wrathful anger for the offspring of women.
- 19
Whose offspring has honor? Human offspring who fear the Lord. Whose offspring has no honor? Human offspring who break the commandments.
- 20
In the midst of kindred he who rules them has honor. Those who fear the Lord have honor in his eyes.
- 22
The rich man, the honorable, and the poor all glory in the fear of the Lord.
- 23
It is not right to dishonor a poor man who has understanding. It is not fitting to glorify a man who is a sinner.
- 24
The prince, the judge, and the mighty man will be honored. There is not one of them greater than he who fears the Lord.
- 25
Free men will minister to a wise servant. A man who has knowledge will not complain.
- 26
Don’t flaunt your wisdom in doing your work. Don’t boast in the time of your distress.
- 27
Better is he who labors and abounds in all things, than he who boasts and lacks bread.
- 28
My son, glorify your soul in humility, and ascribe to yourself honor according to your worthiness.
- 29
Who will justify him who sins against his own soul? Who will honor him who dishonors his own life?
- 30
A poor man is honored for his knowledge. A rich man is honored for his riches.
- 31
But he who is honored in poverty, how much more in riches? He who is dishonored in riches, how much more in poverty?
Bible: World English Bible (Catholic), public domain, via eBible.org. Footnotes, section headings and acrostic letters are not reproduced.