Good government (Sir 10:1-10:5)

“A wise magistrate educates his people.

The rule of an intelligent person is well ordered.

As the people’s judge is,

So are his officials.

As the ruler of the city is,

So are all its inhabitants.

An undisciplined king ruins his people.

A city becomes fit to live in

Through the understanding of its rulers.

The government of the earth

Is in the hands of the Lord.

Over it,

He will raise up the right leader

For the time.

Human success is

In the hand of the Lord.

He confers honor upon the lawgiver.”

Sirach explains why good government is so important. A wise leader educates his people. An intelligent person will have a well ordered city. The city officials get their sense of government from the judge. The inhabitants of a city get their sense of government from their ruler. Rulers are the ones who make a city livable. However, the government is in the hands of the Lord with the divine right of kings. God will then make sure that the right leader is there at the right time. The Lord holds human success in his hands. He is the one who confers honors on his legislators and scribes.