Sirach 3

¹The sones of wisdom ben the chirche of iust men, and the nacioun of hem is obedience and loue.

²Dereworthe sones, here ye the doom of the fadir; and do ye so, that ye be saaf.

³For whi God onouride the fadir in sones, and he sekith, and hath maad stidfast the doom of the modir in to sones.

⁴He that loueth God, schal preie for synnes, and he schal absteyne hym silf fro tho, and he schal be herd in the preier of daies.

⁵And as he that tresourith, so and he that onourith his modir.

⁶He that onourith his fadir, schal be maad myrie in sones, and he schal be herd in the dai of his preier.

⁷He that onourith his fadir, schal lyue bi lengere lijf; and he that obeieth to the fader, schal refreische the modir.

⁸He that dredith the Lord, onourith fadir and modir; and he schal serue in werk, and word,

⁹and al pacience to hem that gendriden hym as to lordis.

¹⁰Onoure thi fadir, that the blessyng of God come to thee; and his blessing dwellith in the laste.

¹¹The blessyng of the fadir makith stidfast the housis of sones; but the cursyng of the modir drawith out the foundementis.

¹²Haue thou not glorie in the dispisyng of thi fadir; for it is not glorie to thee, but confusioun.

¹³For whi the glorie of a man is of the onour of his fadir; and the schenschip of the sone is a fadir with out onour.

¹⁴Sone, resseyue the elde of thi fadir, and make thou not hym sori in his lijf;

¹⁵and if he failith in wit, yyue thou foryyuenesse, and dispise thou not hym in thi vertu; for whi the almes of the fadir schal not be foryetyng.

¹⁶For whi good schal be restorid to thee for the synne of the modir,

¹⁷and bildyng schal be maad to thee in riytfulnesse; and it schal remembre of thee in dai of tribulacioun, and thi synnes schulen be releessid, as iys in clerenesse of the sunne.

¹⁸He is of ful yuel fame, that forsakith the fadir; and he that wraththith the modir, is cursid of God.

¹⁹Sone, performe thi werkis in myldenesse, and thou schalt be loued ouer the glorie of men.

²⁰In as myche as thou art greet, make thee meke in alle thingis, and thou schalt fynde grace bifore God; for whi the power of God aloon is greet,

²¹and he is onourid of meke men.

²²Seke thou not hiyere thingis than thou, and enquere thou not strongere thingis than thou; but euere thenke thou tho thingis, whiche God comaundide to thee; and be thou not curiouse in ful many werkis of hym.

²³For it is not nedeful to thee to se with thin iyen tho thingis, that ben hid.

²⁴In superflu thingis nyle thou seke manyfold; and be thou not curiouse in many werkis of hym;

²⁵for whi ful many thingis aboue the wit of men ben schewid to thee.

²⁶For the suspecioun of many men hath disseyued hem, and withhelde her wittis in vanytee.

²⁷And hard herte schal haue yuel in the laste tyme; and he that loueth perel, schal perische ther ynne.

²⁸An herte that entrith bi tweie weies, schal not haue prosperitees, ether reste; and a man of schrewid herte schal be sclaundrid in tho.

²⁹A wickid herte schal be greuyd in sorewis; and a synnere schal `hepe to do synne.

³⁰Helthe schal not be to the synagoge of proude men; for whi the thicke wode of synne schal be drawun out bi the roote in hem, and it schal not be vndurstondun.

³¹The herte of a wise man is vndurstondun in wisdom, and a good eere schal here wisdom with al coueitise.

³²A wijs herte and able to vndurstonde schal absteyne it silf fro synnes, and schal haue prosperitees in the werkis of riytfulnesse.

³³Watir quenchith fier brennynge, and almes ayenstondith synnes.

³⁴And God, the biholdere of hym that yeldith grace, hath mynde aftirward; and he schal fynde stidefastnesse in the tyme of his fal.

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.