الإصحَاحُ
الْعَاشِرُ

Chapter 10

 

10:1 A wise judge will instruct his people;
and the government of a prudent man is well ordered. 2 As the judge of the
people is himself, so are his officers; and what manner of man the ruler of the
city is, such are all they that dwell therein. 3 An unwise king destroyeth his
people; but through the prudence of them which are in authority the city shall
be inhabited. 4 The power of the earth is in the hand of the Lord, and in due
time he will set over it one that is profitable. 5 In the hand of God is the
prosperity of man: and upon the person of the scribe shall he lay his honour.

 

6 Bear not hatred to thy neighbour for
every wrong; and do nothing at all by injurious practices. 7 Pride is hateful
before God and man: and by both doth one commit iniquity. 8 Because of
unrighteous dealings, injuries, and riches got by deceit, the kingdom is
translated from one people to another.

 

9 Why is earth and ashes proud? There is
not a more wicked thing than a covetous man: for such an one setteth his own
soul to sale; because while he liveth he casteth away his bowels. 10 The
physician cutteth off a long disease; and he that is to day a king to morrow
shall die. 11 For when a man is dead, he shall inherit creeping things, beasts,
and worms. 12 The beginning of pride is when one departeth from God, and his
heart is turned away from his Maker. 13 For pride is the beginning of sin, and
he that hath it shall pour out abomination: and therefore the Lord brought upon
them strange calamities, and overthrew them utterly.

 

14 The Lord hath cast down the thrones of
proud princes, and set up the meek in their stead. 15 The Lord hath plucked up
the roots of the proud nations, and planted the lowly in their place. 16 The
Lord overthrew countries of the heathen, and destroyed them to the foundations
of the earth. 17 He took some of them away, and destroyed them, and hath made
their memorial to cease from the earth. 18 Pride was not made for men, nor
furious anger for them that are born of a woman. 19 They that fear the Lord are
a sure seed, and they that love him an honourable plant: they that regard not
the law are a dishonourable seed; they that transgress the commandments are a
deceivable seed. 20 Among brethren he that is chief is honourably; so are they
that fear the Lord in his eyes. 21 The fear of the Lord goeth before the
obtaining of authority: but roughness and pride is the losing thereof. 22
Whether he be rich, noble, or poor, their glory is the fear of the Lord.

 

23 It is not meet to despise the poor man
that hath understanding; neither is it convenient to magnify a sinful man. 24
Great men, and judges, and potentates, shall be honoured; yet is there none of
them greater than he that feareth the Lord. 25 Unto the servant that is wise
shall they that are free do service: and he that hath knowledge will not grudge
when he is reformed. 26 Be not overwise in doing thy business; and boast not
thyself in the time of thy distress. 27 Better is he that laboureth, and
aboundeth in all things, than he that boasteth himself, and wanteth bread.

 

28 My son, glorify thy soul in meekness,
and give it honour according to the dignity thereof. 29 Who will justify him
that sinneth against his own soul? and who will honour him that dishonoureth
his own life? 30 The poor man is honoured for his skill, and the rich man is
honoured for his riches. 31 He that is honoured in poverty, how much more in
riches? and he that is dishonourable in riches, how much more in poverty?