Sirach 11

1The wisdom of the poor lifts up his head, and seats him among nobles.

2Do not praise a man for his appearance, and do not despise a man who is ugly in his looks.

3The bee is small among flying creatures, but the first of sweet produce is its fruit.

4Do not mock a poor man, and do not boast in bitter days.

5For the works of the Lord are wondrous, and his work is hidden from man.

6Many who were oppressed sat on a throne, and one not thought of put on a turban.

7Many who were exalted have been greatly disgraced, and brought low together; even the honored have been given into another's hand.

8Before you investigate, do not find fault; examine first, and afterward rebuke.

9My son, do not answer a matter before you hear it, and do not speak in the midst of conversation.

10Do not contend where there is no cause, and do not rise up in the quarrel of the arrogant.

11There is one who labors and toils and hurries, yet all the more he comes up short.

12My son, if you do not run, you will not attain; and if you do not seek, you will not find.

13There is one who labors and toils and rushes about, yet all the more he falls behind.

14There is one who is poor and perishing as he walks, lacking everything, yet more than a poor man.

15And the eye of the Lord looked on him for good, and shook him out of the dust of filth.

16He lifted him up and exalted him, and many were astonished at him.

17Good and evil, life and death, poverty and wealth—they are from him.

18Wisdom and understanding and the knowledge of a matter are from the Lord; sin and upright ways are from the Lord.

19Folly and darkness are reserved for transgressors, and evildoers have evil with them.

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

21There is one who grows rich through affliction, and this is the reward he deserves.

22And at the time he says, “I have found rest,” then now he will eat from his good things.

23Do not say, "What do I need, and what good things will be mine from now on?"

24My son, stand by your appointed lot and walk in it, and grow old in your work.

25Do not be astonished at evildoers; run to the Lord and wait for his light.

26For it is easy in the eyes of the Lord, in a sudden moment, to make a poor man rich.

27The blessing of God is the lot of the righteous, and in the time of his hope it will blossom.

28Do not say, “Look, I have done what I desired; and what now will be lacking to me?”

29Do not say, “I have enough before me; what disaster will come upon me?”

30A good day makes one forget trouble, and a bad day makes one forget prosperity; and a man's end will be set before him.

31An evil time makes pleasure be forgotten, and a man's end tells about him.

32Before you examine a man, do not call him blessed, for a man will be called blessed in his end.

33Before death, do not call a man blessed, for in his end a man is made known.

34Keep many out of your house, and do not bring every man into your home, for many lie in wait, and many are deceivers.