Sirach 3

¹The sons of wisdom are the Church of the just: and their generation is obedience and love.

²Sons, listen to the judgment of your father, and act accordingly, so that you may be saved.

³For God has honored the father in the sons, and, when seeking the judgment of the mother, he has confirmed it in the children.

⁴He who loves God will plead with him on behalf of sins, and will keep himself away from sin, and will be heeded in the prayers of his days.

⁵And, like one who stores up treasure, so also is he who honors his mother.

⁶He who honors his father will find happiness in his own children, and he will be heeded in the day of his prayer.

⁷He who honors his father will live a long life. And he who obeys his father will be a refreshment to his mother.

⁸He who fears the Lord honors his parents, and he will serve them as masters, for it is they who conceived him.

⁹In word and deed, and in all things, honor your father with patience,

¹⁰so that a blessing may come to you from him, and so that his blessing may remain to the very end.

¹¹The blessing of the father strengthens the houses of the sons; but the curse of the mother uproots even its foundation.

¹²Do not boast in the disgrace of your father; for his shame is not your glory.

¹³For the glory of a man is from the honor of his father, and a father without honor is a discredit to the son.

¹⁴Son, support your father in his old age, and do not grieve him in his life.

¹⁵And if his mind should fail, show kindness; and do not spurn him when you are in your strength. For almsgiving to the father will never be forgotten.

¹⁶For even in return for the sin of the mother, good will be repaid to you.

¹⁷And you will be built up in justice, and you will be remembered in the day of tribulation. And your sins will dissolve like ice in warm weather.

¹⁸What an evil form has he who forsakes his father! And whoever exasperates his mother is accursed by God.

¹⁹Son, perform your works in meekness, and you shall be loved beyond the glory of men.

²⁰However great you may be, humble yourself in all things, and you will find grace in the presence of God.

²¹For only the power of God is great, and he is honored by the humble.

²²You should not seek the things that are too high for you, and you should not examine the things that are beyond your ability. But as for the things that God has entrusted to you, consider these always. But you should not be curious in too many of his works.

²³For it is not necessary for you to see with your own eyes the things that are hidden.

²⁴In unnecessary matters, do not choose to be an examiner of many different things, and you should not be curious about too many of his works.

²⁵For many things have been revealed to you, beyond the understanding of men.

²⁶Yet uncertainty in these things has also undermined many persons and has detained their minds in vanity.

²⁷A hardened heart will have evil in the very end, and he who loves peril will perish in it.

²⁸A heart advancing in two directions will not have success, and the depraved heart will be scandalized in this way.

²⁹A wicked heart will be burdened with sorrows, and a sinner will add further sins.

³⁰The synagogue of the arrogant will not be healed. For the stalk of sinfulness will take root in them, and it will not be understood.

³¹The heart of the wise is understood by wisdom, and a good ear will listen to wisdom with all its desire.

³²A wise and understanding heart will abstain from sins, and will have success in works of justice.

³³Water extinguishes a burning fire, and almsgiving withstands sins.

³⁴And God is the watchman for him who repays a kindness. He remembers him afterwards, and in the time of his fall, he will find a firm support.

Sirach 3

¹Hear me your father, O children, and do thereafter, that ye may be safe.

²For the Lord hath given the father honour over the children, and hath confirmed the authority of the mother over the sons.

³Whoso honoureth his father maketh an atonement for his sins:

⁴And he that honoureth his mother is as one that layeth up treasure.

⁵Whoso honoureth his father shall have joy of his own children; and when he maketh his prayer, he shall be heard.

⁶He that honoureth his father shall have a long life; and he that is obedient unto the Lord shall be a comfort to his mother.

⁷He that feareth the Lord will honour his father, and will do service unto his parents, as to his masters.

⁸Honour thy father and mother both in word and deed, that a blessing may come upon thee from them.

⁹For the blessing of the father establisheth the houses of children; but the curse of the mother rooteth out foundations.

¹⁰Glory not in the dishonour of thy father; for thy father’s dishonour is no glory unto thee.

¹¹For the glory of a man is from the honour of his father; and a mother in dishonour is a reproach to the children.

¹²My son, help thy father in his age, and grieve him not as long as he liveth.

¹³And if his understanding fail, have patience with him; and despise him not when thou art in thy full strength.

¹⁴For the relieving of thy father shall not be forgotten: and instead of sins it shall be added to build thee up.

¹⁵In the day of thine affliction it shall be remembered; thy sins also shall melt away, as the ice in the fair warm weather.

¹⁶He that forsaketh his father is as a blasphemer; and he that angereth his mother is cursed: of God.

¹⁷My son, go on with thy business in meekness; so shalt thou be beloved of him that is approved.

¹⁸The greater thou art, the more humble thyself, and thou shalt find favour before the Lord.

¹⁹Many are in high place, and of renown: but mysteries are revealed unto the meek.

²⁰For the power of the Lord is great, and he is honoured of the lowly.

²¹Seek not out things that are too hard for thee, neither search the things that are above thy strength.

²²But what is commanded thee, think thereupon with reverence, for it is not needful for thee to see with thine eyes the things that are in secret.

²³Be not curious in unnecessary matters: for more things are shewed unto thee than men understand.

²⁴For many are deceived by their own vain opinion; and an evil suspicion hath overthrown their judgment.

²⁵Without eyes thou shalt want light: profess not the knowledge therefore that thou hast not.

²⁶A stubborn heart shall fare evil at the last; and he that loveth danger shall perish therein.

²⁷An obstinate heart shall be laden with sorrows; and the wicked man shall heap sin upon sin.

²⁸In the punishment of the proud there is no remedy; for the plant of wickedness hath taken root in him.

²⁹The heart of the prudent will understand a parable; and an attentive ear is the desire of a wise man.

³⁰Water will quench a flaming fire; and alms maketh an atonement for sins.

³¹And he that requiteth good turns is mindful of that which may come hereafter; and when he falleth, he shall find a stay.