Read & explore together
Reverence matters more than rank or wealth
This wisdom passage measures honour in a surprising way. It mentions family, rulers, rich and poor people, yet keeps returning to one standard: fearing the Lord matters more than status, wealth, or position.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
In Sirach 10:19–25, the sayings compare different kinds of people: offspring, rulers, kindred, rich and poor, princes and servants. The passage does not tell a story. It gives wisdom about who truly deserves honour and what should not be praised.
Sirach 10:19–25Main takeaway
This passage teaches that reverence for the Lord gives greater honour than rank, wealth, or outward position.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Honour begins with fearing the LordThe passage opens by asking who has honour and who does not. The answer is not about power or family line by itself.
Explanation
The passage opens by asking who has honour and who does not. The answer is not about power or family line by itself. Human offspring who fear the Lord have honour, while human offspring who break the commandments do not. Honour is linked to reverence and obedience in this saying.
02Honour among people and in the Lord’s eyesOne saying notes that a ruler has honour in the midst of kindred. Yet the same verse says those who fear the Lord have honour in his eyes.
Explanation
One saying notes that a ruler has honour in the midst of kindred. Yet the same verse says those who fear the Lord have honour in his eyes. The passage therefore names both human recognition and the Lord’s regard, and it directs attention to honour in his eyes.
03Rich and poor stand on the same groundSirach names the rich man, the honourable, and the poor together. All of them may glory in the fear of the Lord.
Explanation
Sirach names the rich man, the honourable, and the poor together. All of them may glory in the fear of the Lord. This places people of different social standing on the same ground. Reverence for the Lord is not reserved for one class, and it is not cancelled by poverty.
04Do not praise sin or despise understandingThe passage gives two corrections. First, it is not right to dishonour a poor man who has understanding.
Explanation
The passage gives two corrections. First, it is not right to dishonour a poor man who has understanding. Second, it is not fitting to glorify a man who is a sinner. These sayings warn against judging by status. A poor man’s understanding should not be dishonoured, and a sinner should not be glorified.
05Fear of the Lord outranks positionPrinces, judges, and mighty men will be honoured, but none is greater than one who fears the Lord.
Explanation
Princes, judges, and mighty men will be honoured, but none is greater than one who fears the Lord. The next saying adds that free men will minister to a wise servant, and a man who has knowledge will not complain. Wisdom and fear of the Lord can outweigh expected rank.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01According to this passage, what makes human offspring honourable?
Look at the contrast between fearing the Lord and breaking the commandments, and answer from the wording of the verse.
02How does Sirach compare social honour with honour in the Lord’s eyes?
Notice that a ruler has honour among kindred, but the verse also says who has honour in his eyes.
03Which people are named as not greater than one who fears the Lord?
List the positions named in the verse, then compare them with the final standard given there.
Read the Bible passages
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Sirach 10:19–20
19Whose offspring has honor? Human offspring who fear the Lord. Whose offspring has no honor? Human offspring who break the commandments.
20In the midst of kindred he who rules them has honor. Those who fear the Lord have honor in his eyes.
Sirach 10:22–25
22The rich man, the honorable, and the poor all glory in the fear of the Lord.
23It is not right to dishonor a poor man who has understanding. It is not fitting to glorify a man who is a sinner.
24The prince, the judge, and the mighty man will be honored. There is not one of them greater than he who fears the Lord.
25Free men will minister to a wise servant. A man who has knowledge will not complain.
Source passages
Source: Sirach 10 ↗Translation and source notes
Some verse numbers are represented by textual notes in World English Bible Classic. The reading below follows the text printed in the main passage.