“Whose offspring are worthy of honor?
Human offspring.
Whose offspring are worthy of honor?
Those who fear the Lord.
Whose offspring are unworthy of honor?
Human offspring.
Whose offspring are unworthy of honor?
Those who break the commandments.
Among family members
Their leader is worthy of honor.
Those who fear the Lord
Are worthy of honor in his eyes.
The rich find their glory
In the fear of the Lord.
The eminent find their glory
In the fear of the Lord.
The poor find their glory
In the fear of the Lord.
It is not right to despise
An intelligent poor person.
It is not proper
To honor a sinful person.
The prince is honored.
The judge is honored.
The ruler is honored.
But none of them is greater
Than the one who fears the Lord.
Free citizens will serve
A wise servant.
An intelligent person will not complain.”
Sirach poses a series of questions and answers about honor. Humans are worthy of both honor and dishonor. Those who fear the Lord are worthy of honor, but those who do not follow the commandments are worthy of dishonor. The leader in a family is worthy of honor, but so are those who fear the Lord. Whether you are rich, eminent, or poor, your glory is in the fear of the Lord. You should not despise intelligent poor people, but you should not honor sinners. You may honor a prince, a judge, or a ruler, but none of them is greater than the one who fears the Lord. Free citizens may serve a wise servant, so that the intelligent people will not complain.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 