Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) — Chapter 10

A wise judge shall judge his people; and the government of a prudent man shall be orderly. The good prince must be wise, just, and aware that all authority comes from God. Lapide expounds the Davidic ideal of the ruler-judge (citing Ps. 71:1-3) as the standard for all legitimate governance.

In the hand of God is the power of the earth; and the useful ruler He will raise up in his time. All earthly authority comes from God alone, who raises up and deposes rulers according to His providential plan. Lapide cites Daniel, Paul (Rom. 13), and Augustine on the divine source of all legitimate authority.

Pride is hateful before God and men; and all iniquity of nations is execrable. The first of nine arguments against pride: it is hateful before both God and men. Lapide treats this as a twofold condemnation establishing the universal rejection of pride.

A kingdom is translated from one people to another because of injustices and injuries and contumelies and divers deceits. The second argument: pride leads to injustice and injustice causes the transfer of kingdoms. Lapide documents this principle throughout biblical history: Israel lost its kingdom to Babylon through pride and injustice.

But nothing more wicked than the covetous man. Why is earth and ashes proud? The third argument: man's essential nature—dust and ashes—makes pride absurd. Lapide quotes Chrysostom: \"What is more ridiculous than dirt being proud?\"

The beginning of man's pride is to fall off from God; because his heart is departed from Him that made him. The sixth argument: pride is apostasy from God. Lapide treats this as perhaps the most theological of the arguments: pride is the creature's declaration of independence from the Creator.

The beginning of all sin is pride; he that holdeth it shall be filled with maledictions, and it shall pull him down to the end. The seventh argument: pride is the root and beginning of all sin. Lapide cites Gregory the Great and Thomas Aquinas on pride as the mother of all vices.

The fear of God is the glory of the rich and the honourable and the poor. The true basis of human honor is not social rank but the fear of the Lord. Lapide concludes: whether rich or poor, noble or common, the man who fears God possesses the only honor that truly matters.

Great and judge and mighty is in honour; and there is none greater than he that feareth God. The fear of God surpasses all earthly greatness. Lapide uses this to summarize the whole chapter: divine honor is incomparable to any human dignity.

Better is he that laboureth and aboundeth in all things, than he that boasteth himself and wanteth bread. Honest labor producing abundance exceeds vainglorious boasting in poverty. Lapide teaches that industry is a divine virtue; pride is condemned even when it cannot afford to maintain itself.