1 A wise ruler will educate his people, and his government will be orderly. 2 All the officials and all the citizens will be like their ruler. 3 An uneducated king will ruin his people, but a government will grow strong if its rulers are wise. 4 The Lord sees to the government of the world and brings the right person to power at the right time. 5 The success of that person is in the Lord's hands. The Lord is the source of the honor given to any official.
Pride
6 Don't be angry with someone for every little thing he does wrong. Don't do anything out of injured pride. 7 Arrogance and injustice are hated by both the Lord and people. 8 Injustice, arrogance, and wealth cause nations to fall from power, and others then rise to take their place. 9 We are only dust and ashes; what have we got to be proud of Our body decays even while we are alive. 10 A long illness puzzles the doctor. Even a king may be alive today and dead tomorrow. 11 When a person dies, all he then possesses is worms, flies, and maggots.
12 Pride has its beginning when a person abandons the Lord, his maker. 13 Pride is like a fountain pouring out sin, and whoever persists in it will be full of wickedness. That is why the Lord brought terrible punishments on some people and completely destroyed them. 14 The Lord has overthrown kings and put humbler people in their place. 15 The Lord has pulled up nations by the roots and established humbler ones in their place. 16 The Lord has overthrown empires and completely devastated their lands. 17 He destroyed some so completely that they are not even remembered any more. 18 The Creator never intended for human beings to be arrogant and violent.
People Who Should Be Honored
19 Who deserves honor? The human race does, because people fear the Lord. Who does not deserve honor? The human race does not, because people break the Lord's commands. 20 A leader should be honored by those who follow him, and the Lord honors those who fear him.
22 Rich people, famous people, and poor people all take pride in their fear of the Lord. 23 It is not right to refuse honor to a poor person who is intelligent, and it is not right to give honor to a sinner. 24 People of influence, rulers, and judges will be honored, but none of them is greater than a person who fears the Lord. 25 A slave who is wise will have free citizens serving him; and if they are sensible, they will not resent it.
Humility and Self-respect
26 When you do your work, don't make a show of your skill, and don't try to put on a show when you are in trouble. 27 It is better to work and have more than you need than to go around boasting but hungry.
28 My child, keep your self-respect, but remain modest. Value yourself at your true worth. 29 There is no excuse for a person to run himself down. No one respects a person who has no respect for himself. 30 Poor people can be honored for their good sense, and rich people can be honored for their wealth. 31 If someone is honored while he is poor, think how much he will be honored if he becomes rich! If someone is despised while he is rich, think how much more he will be despised if he becomes poor!
1 Gudrs lēmējs audzina tautu,
un pārvalde ir labā kārtībā prātīgajam.
2 Kāds valsts valdītājs, tādi valsts kalpi,
kāds pilsētas galva, tādi iedzīvotāji.
3 Nemācīts ķēniņš izposta tautu,
pateicoties valdītāju saprātam, tiek pilsēta dibināta.
4 Kunga rokās ir vara pār zemi,
un īstajā brīdī viņš modina piemēroto.
5 Kunga rokās ir cilvēku veiksme,
un pilsētas lietvedi viņš apveltī ar godību.
6 Neļaunojies uz tuvāko par katru pārestību
un neatdari ar varmācību!
7 Nedz Kungs, nedz cilvēks neieredz augstprātību,
un abiem derdzas netaisnība.
8 No vienas tautas rokām citās nonāk
valsts vara ar netaisnību, varmācību un naudu.
Nav nekā bezdievīgāka par naudas kāro,
jo arī savu dvēseli tas ir ar mieru pārdot.
9 Ko augstprātībā slīgst pīšļi un pelni?
Dzīvs vēl un jau izgāžas iekšas.
10 “Īsa slimība,” jokojas ārsts,
“šodien ķēniņš, rīt pagalam,” –
11 cilvēks mirstot manto
rāpuļus, zvērus un tārpus.
12 Augstprātības pamatā ir novēršanās no Kunga.
No viņa, kas veidojis cilvēku, novēršas sirds,
13 jo grēks ir augstprātības pamatā
un riebīgums šļācas no augstprātīgā.
Tādēļ ar nelaimēm tos brīnumaini skāra Kungs
un vispēdīgi iznīcināja.
14 Varenos Kungs gāza no troņa
un iecēla lēnprātīgos;
15 ar saknēm Kungs izplēsa tautas
un vietā stādīja pazemīgos.
16 Valstis Kungs apvērsa
un sagrāva līdz pamatiem,
17 no zemes izcēla un satrieca,
ne piemiņas neatstājot virs zemes.
18 Nedz augstprātība radīta cilvēkiem,
nedz niknas dusmas no sievietes dzimušajiem.
Cilvēka vērtība un gods
19 Kā cilts ir godā? Cilvēku cilts.
Kā cilts ir godā? Kas bijā Kungu.
Kā cilts ir negodā? Cilvēku cilts.
Kā cilts ir negodā? Kas pārkāpj baušļus.
20 Vadonis ir godā brāļu vidū,
bet Kunga acīs – kas viņa bīstas.
21 Kungs pieņem to, kas viņa bīstas,
bet atmet paštaisno un augstprātīgo.
22 Ar bijību pret Kungu lepojas
gan bagātais, gan izcilais, gan nabags.
23 Ir netaisnīgi izturēties ar necieņu
pret to, kas ir prātīgs, bet nabags,
un nepiederas godāt grēcinieku.
24 Kaut arī godā diženo un lēmēju, un vareno,
neviens no viņiem nav pārāks
par to, kas bīstas Kunga.
25 Brīvie nonāk gudra verga kalpībā,
turpretī saprātīgajam nav par ko sūdzēties.
26 Netēlo gudro, kad jāstrādā,
un nedižojies, kad esi trūkumā;
27 labāk strādāt un būt visā pārtikušam
nekā dižoties bez maizes palikušam.
28 Esi lēnprātīgs, ar sevi lepojoties, dēls,
un godā sevi, cik esi vērts:
29 kas attaisnos to, kurš grēko pats pret sevi;
kas godās to, kurš dzīvo necienīgi?
30 Nabagu godā zināšanu dēļ,
bagāto godā bagātības dēļ.
31 Kuru godā kā nabagu,
cik negodās bagātu?
Kuru negodā kā bagātu,
cik godās nabagu?
