Virtues & Vices of Men In Power

The Great Evil of Pride

Ecclesiasticus Chapter 10 (DR)

[1] A wise judge shall judge his people, and the government of a prudent man shall be steady. [2] As the judge of the people is himself, so also are his ministers: and what manner of man the ruler of a city is, such also are they that dwell therein. [3] An unwise king shall be the ruin of his people: and cities shall be inhabited through the prudence of the rulers. [4] The power of the earth is in the hand of God, and in his time he will raise up a profitable ruler over it. [5] The prosperity of man is in the hand of God, and upon the person of the scribe he shall lay his honour.

 

[6] Remember not any injury done thee by thy neighbour, and do thou nothing by deeds of injury. [7] Pride is hateful before God and men: and all iniquity of nations is execrable. [8] A kingdom is translated from one people to another, because of injustices, and wrongs, and injuries, and divers deceits. [9] But nothing is more wicked than the covetous man. Why is earth and ashes proud? [10] There is not a more wicked thing than to love money: for such a one setteth even his own soul to sale: because while he liveth he hath cast away his bowels.

 

[11] All power is of short life. A long sickness is troublesome to the physician. [12] The physician cutteth off a short sickness: so also a king is today, and tomorrow he shall die. [13] For when a man shall die, he shall inherit serpents, and beasts, and worms. [14] The beginning of the pride of man, is to fall off from God: [15] Because his heart is departed from him that made him: for pride is the beginning of all sin: he that holdeth it, shall be filled with maledictions, and it shall ruin him in the end.

 

[16] Therefore hath the Lord disgraced the assemblies of the wicked, and hath utterly destroyed them. [17] God hath overturned the thrones of proud princes, and hath set up the meek in their stead. [18] God hath made the roots of proud nations to wither, and hath planted the humble of these nations. [19] The Lord hath overthrown the lands of the Gentiles, and hath destroyed them even to the foundation. [20] He hath made some of them to wither away, and hath destroyed them, and hath made the memory of them to cease from the earth.

 

[21] God hath abolished the memory of the proud, and hath preserved the memory of them that are humble in mind. [22] Pride was not made for men: nor wrath for the race of women. [23] That seed of men shall be honoured, which feareth God: but that seed shall be dishonoured, which transgresseth the commandments of the Lord. [24] In the midst of brethren their chief is honourable: so shall they that fear the Lord, be in his eyes. [25] The fear of God is the glory of the rich, and of the honourable, and of the poor:

 

[26] Despise not a just man that is poor, and do not magnify a sinful man that is rich. [27] The great man, and the judge, and the mighty is in honour: and there is none greater than he that feareth God. [28] They that are free shall serve a servant that is wise: and a man that is prudent and well instructed will not murmur when he is reproved; and he that is ignorant, shall not be honoured. [29] Extol not thyself in doing thy work, and linger not in the time of distress: [30] Better is he that laboureth, and aboundeth in all things, than he that boasteth himself and wanteth bread.

 

[31] My son, keep thy soul in meekness, and give it honour according to its desert. [32] Who will justify him that sinneth against his own soul? and who will honour him that dishonoureth his own soul? [33] The poor man is glorified by his discipline and fear: and there is a man that is honoured for his wealth. [34] But he that is glorified in poverty, how much more in wealth? and he that is glorified in wealth, let him fear poverty.