Ecclesiasticus 11

How to read these pages: the text itself comes first, verse by verse, in the volume's own translation. Beneath each verse stands its Meaning — a rendering of what the passage's terms name in the inner life, drawn from the correspondences the text itself uses. The text is never altered; the meaning is offered, not imposed.

King James Version

1Wisdom lifteth up the head of him that is of low degree, and maketh him to sit among great men.

Wisdom — the divine Love-Wisdom of the Source, ordering all things — lifts up the head of him that is of low degree, and makes him to sit among great men.

2Commend not a man for his beauty; neither abhor a man for his outward appearance.

Commend not a man for his beauty; neither abhor a man for his outward appearance.

3The bee is little among such as fly; but her fruit is the chief of sweet things.

The bee is little among such as fly; but her fruit is the chief of sweet things — the smallest soaring faculty may bear the sweetest result.

4Boast not of thy clothing and raiment, and exalt not thyself in the day of honour: for the works of the Lord are wonderful, and his works among men are hidden.

Boast not of your clothing and raiment, and exalt not yourself in the day of honour: for the works of the indwelling LORD are wonderful, and His works among men are hidden.

5Many kings have sat down upon the ground; and one that was never thought of hath worn the crown.

Many kings have sat down upon the ground; and one that was never thought of has worn the crown — the ruling state perfected and acknowledged.

6Many mighty men have been greatly disgraced; and the honourable delivered into other men’s hands.

Many mighty men have been greatly disgraced; and the honourable delivered into other men's hands.

7Blame not before thou hast examined the truth: understand first, and then rebuke.

Blame not before you have examined the truth: understand first, and then rebuke.

8Answer not before thou hast heard the cause: neither interrupt men in the midst of their talk.

Answer not before you have heard the cause: neither interrupt men in the midst of their talk.

9Strive not in a matter that concerneth thee not; and sit not in judgment with sinners.

Strive not in a matter that concerns you not; and sit not in judgment with sinners.

10My son, meddle not with many matters: for if thou meddle much, thou shalt not be innocent; and if thou follow after, thou shalt not obtain, neither shalt thou escape by fleeing.

My son, meddle not with many matters: for if you meddle much, you shall not be innocent; and if you follow after, you shall not obtain, neither shall you escape by fleeing.

11There is one that laboureth, and taketh pains, and maketh haste, and is so much the more behind.

There is one that labours, and takes pains, and makes haste, and is so much the more behind.

12Again, there is another that is slow, and hath need of help, wanting ability, and full of poverty; yet the eye of the Lord looked upon him for good, and set him up from his low estate,

Again, there is another that is slow, and has need of help, wanting ability, and full of poverty; yet the eye of the indwelling LORD looked upon him for good, and set him up from his low estate,

13And lifted up his head from misery; so that many that saw it marvelled at him.

And lifted up his head from misery; so that many that saw it marvelled at him.

14Prosperity and adversity, life and death, poverty and riches, come of the Lord.

Prosperity and adversity, life and death, poverty and riches, come of the indwelling LORD.

15Wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of the law, are of the Lord: love, and the way of good works, are from him.

Wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of the law, are of the LORD: love, and the way of good works, are from Him.

16Error and darkness had their beginning together with sinners: and evil shall wax old with them that glory therein.

Error and darkness — unilluminated consciousness — had their beginning together with sinners: and evil shall wax old with them that glory therein.

17The gift of the Lord remaineth with the godly, and his favour bringeth prosperity for ever.

The gift of the indwelling LORD remains with the godly, and His favour brings prosperity for ever.

18There is that waxeth rich by his wariness and pinching, and this is the portion of his reward:

There is that waxes rich by his wariness and pinching, and this is the portion of his reward:

19Whereas he saith, I have found rest, and now will eat continually of my goods; and yet he knoweth not what time shall come upon him, and that he must leave those things to others, and die.

Whereas he says, I have found rest, and now will eat continually of my goods; and yet he knows not what time shall come upon him, and that he must leave those things to others, and die.

20Be stedfast in thy covenant, and be conversant therein, and wax old in thy work.

Be steadfast in your covenant — the law of relationship written into the state — and be conversant therein, and wax old in your work.

21Marvel not at the works of sinners; but trust in the Lord, and abide in thy labour: for it is an easy thing in the sight of the Lord on the sudden to make a poor man rich.

Marvel not at the works of sinners; but trust in the indwelling LORD, and abide in your labour: for it is an easy thing in the sight of the LORD on the sudden to make a poor man rich.

22The blessing of the Lord is in the reward of the godly, and suddenly he maketh his blessing flourish.

The blessing of the LORD — divine increase — is in the reward of the godly, and suddenly He makes His blessing flourish.

23Say not, What profit is there of my service? and what good things shall I have hereafter?

Say not, What profit is there of my service? And what good things shall I have hereafter?

24Again, say not, I have enough, and possess many things, and what evil can come to me hereafter?

Again, say not, I have enough, and possess many things, and what evil can come to me hereafter?

25In the day of prosperity there is a forgetfulness of affliction: and in the day of affliction there is no more remembrance of prosperity.

In the day of prosperity there is a forgetfulness of affliction: and in the day of affliction there is no more remembrance of prosperity.

26For it is an easy thing unto the Lord in the day of death to reward a man according to his ways.

For it is an easy thing to the indwelling LORD in the day of death to reward a man according to his ways.

27The affliction of an hour maketh a man forget pleasure: and in his end his deeds shall be discovered.

The affliction of an hour makes a man forget pleasure: and in his end his deeds shall be discovered.

28Judge none blessed before his death: for a man shall be known in his children.

Judge none blessed before his death: for a man shall be known in his children — in the states that proceed from him.

29Bring not every man into thine house: for the deceitful man hath many trains.

Bring not every man into your house: for the deceitful man has many trains — many snares laid in sequence.

30Like as a partridge taken [and kept] in a cage, so is the heart of the proud; and like as a spy, watcheth he for thy fall:

Like as a partridge taken and kept in a cage, so is the heart of the proud; and like as a spy, he watches for your fall:

31For he lieth in wait, and turneth good into evil, and in things worthy praise will lay blame upon thee.

For he lies in wait, and turns good into evil, and in things worthy praise will lay blame upon you.

32Of a spark of fire a heap of coals is kindled: and a sinful man layeth wait for blood.

Of a spark of fire a heap of coals is kindled: and a sinful man lies in wait for blood — for the life-stream of a state.

33Take heed of a mischievous man, for he worketh wickedness; lest he bring upon thee a perpetual blot.

Take heed of a mischievous man, for he works wickedness; lest he bring upon you a perpetual blot.

34Receive a stranger into thine house, and he will disturb thee, and turn thee out of thine own.

Receive a stranger into your house, and he will disturb you, and turn you out of your own.

Companion volume to The Why Bible — the King James Apocrypha, rendered in its spiritual meanings. First final edition, October 2026.