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16 The Lord lays waste the territory of the nations
    and destroys them to the very foundations of the earth.
17 He sweeps away every trace of some of the nations
    and blots out the memory of them from the earth.
18 Pride was not created for men,
    nor violent anger for one born of woman.

True Glory Is To Fear God[a]

19 Whose offspring are worthy of honor? Human offspring.
    Whose offspring are worthy of honor? Those who fear the Lord.
Whose offspring deserve contempt? Human offspring.
    Whose offspring deserve contempt? Those who break the commandments.
20 The members of a family hold their leader in honor,
    but he who fears the Lord is worthy of honor in his eyes.

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Footnotes

  1. Wisdom of Ben Sira 10:19 The teaching of the sage agrees with the teaching of the Prophets (Jer 9:22f): human beings are honorable not by the dignity of their function nor by their social rank but by the authenticity of their religious life.