Sirach 3
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Duties toward Parents
3 Listen to me your father, O children;
act accordingly, that you may be safe.
2 For the Lord honors a father above his children,
and he confirms a mother’s judgment over her sons.(A)
3 Those who honor their father atone for sins,(B)
4 and those who respect their mother are like those who lay up treasure.(C)
5 Those who honor their father will have joy in their children,
and when they pray they will be heard.
6 Those who respect their father will have long life,
and those who honor[a] their mother obey the Lord;[b](D)
7 they will serve their parents as their masters.[c](E)
8 Honor your father by word and deed,
that his blessing may come upon you.(F)
9 For a father’s blessing strengthens the houses of the children,
but a mother’s curse uproots their foundations.(G)
10 Do not glorify yourself by your father’s dishonor,
for your father’s dishonor is no glory to you.
11 The honor of one’s father is one’s own glory,
and a mother dishonored is a disgrace to her children.(H)
12 My child, help your father in his old age,
and do not grieve him as long as he lives;(I)
13 even if his mind fails, be patient with him;
do not despise him because you have all your faculties.
14 For kindness to a father will not be forgotten
and will be credited to you against your sins;(J)
15 in the day of your distress it will be remembered in your favor;
like frost in fair weather, your sins will melt away.
16 Whoever forsakes a father is like a blasphemer,
and whoever angers a mother is cursed by the Lord.(K)
Humility
17 My child, perform your tasks with humility;
then you will be loved more than a giver of gifts.[d]
18 The greater you are, the more you must humble yourself;
so you will find favor in the sight of the Lord.[e](L)
20 For great is the might of the Lord,
but by the humble he is glorified.
21 Neither seek what is too difficult for you
nor investigate what is beyond your power.(M)
22 Reflect upon what you have been commanded,
for what is hidden is not your concern.(N)
23 In matters greater than your own affairs, do not meddle,
for things beyond human understanding have been shown you.(O)
24 For their conceit has led many astray,
and wrong opinion has impaired their judgment.(P)
25 Without eyes there is no light;
without knowledge there is no wisdom.[f]
26 A stubborn mind will fare badly at the end,
and whoever loves danger will perish in it.
27 A stubborn mind will be burdened by troubles,
and the sinner adds sin to sins.(Q)
28 When calamity befalls the proud, there is no healing,
for an evil plant has taken root in him.(R)
29 The mind of the intelligent appreciates proverbs,
and an attentive ear is the desire of the wise.(S)
Alms for the Poor
30 As water extinguishes a blazing fire,
so almsgiving atones for sin.(T)
31 Those who repay favors give thought to the future;
when they fall they will find support.(U)
Footnotes
- 3.6 Heb: Other ancient authorities read comfort
- 3.6 Heb: Gk and those who obey the Lord honor their mother
- 3.7 In other ancient authorities this line is preceded by Those who fear the Lord honor their father,
- 3.17 Heb Syr: Gk more than an acceptable person
- 3.18 Other ancient authorities add as 3.19, Many are lofty and renowned, but to the humble he reveals his secrets.
- 3.25 Heb: Other ancient authorities lack 3.25
Sirach 3
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
3 The sons of wisdom are the church of the just: and their generation, obedience and love.
2 Children, hear the judgment of your father, and so do that you may be saved.
3 For God hath made the father honourable to the children: and seeking the judgment of the mothers, hath confirmed it upon the children.
4 He that loveth God, shall obtain pardon for his sins by prayer, and shall refrain himself from them, and shall be heard in the prayer of days.
5 And he that honoureth his mother is as one that layeth up a treasure.
6 He that honoureth his father shall have joy in his own children, and in the day of his prayer he shall be heard.
7 He that honoureth his father shall enjoy a long life: and he that obeyeth the father, shall be a comfort to his mother.
8 He that feareth the Lord, honoureth his parents, and will serve them as his masters that brought him into the world.
9 Honour thy father, in work and word, and all patience,
10 That a blessing may come upon thee from him, and his blessing may remain in the latter end.
11 The father's blessing establisheth the houses of the children: but the mother's curse rooteth up the foundation.
12 Glory not in the dishonour of thy father: for his shame is no glory to thee.
13 For the glory of a man is from the honour of his father, and a father without honour is the disgrace of the son.
14 Son, support the old age of thy father, and grieve him not in his life;
15 And if his understanding fail, have patience with him, and despise him not when thou art in thy strength: for the relieving of the father shall not be forgotten.
16 For good shall be repaid to thee for the sin of thy mother.
17 And in justice thou shalt be built up, and in the day of affliction thou shalt be remembered: and thy sins shall melt away as the ice in the fair warm weather.
18 Of what an evil fame is he that forsaketh his father: and he is cursed of God that angereth his mother.
19 My son, do thy works in meekness, and thou shalt be beloved above the glory of men.
20 The greater thou art, the more humble thyself in all things, and thou shalt find grace before God:
21 For great is the power of God alone, and he is honoured by the humble.
22 Seek not the things that are too high for thee, and search not into things above thy ability: but the things that God hath commanded thee, think on them always, and in many of his works be not curious.
23 For it is not necessary for thee to see with thy eyes those things that are hid.
24 In unnecessary matters be not over curious, and in many of his works thou shalt not be inquisitive.
25 For many things are shewn to thee above the understanding of men.
26 And the suspicion of them hath deceived many, and hath detained their minds in vanity.
27 A hard heart shall fear evil at the last: and he that loveth danger shall perish in it.
28 A heart that goeth two ways shall not have success, and the perverse of heart shall be scandalized therein.
29 A wicked heart shall be laden with sorrows, and the sinner will add sin to sin.
30 The congregation of the proud shall not be healed: for the plant of wickedness shall take root in them, and it shall not be perceived.
31 The heart of the wise is understood in wisdom, and a good ear will hear wisdom with all desire.
32 A wise heart, and which hath understanding, will abstain from sins, and in the works of justice shall have success.
33 Water quencheth a flaming fire, and alms resisteth sins:
34 And God provideth for him that sheweth favour: he remembereth him afterwards, and in the time of his fall he shall find a sure stay.
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