Sirach 3
3
Duties to parents
1Listen to a father’s warning, children,
and act accordingly
so that you may be safe.
2The Lord gives pride of place
to a father above his children
and establishes a mother’s judgment
above that of her offspring.
3Those who honor their fathers
will make up for their own sins,
4and those who praise their mother
are like people storing up treasure.
5Those who honor their fathers
will be made happy
by their own children,
and they will be heard when they pray.
6Those who praise their fathers
will live a long life,
and those who listen to the Lord
will give rest to their mothers,#3.6 LXXb adds 3:7a Those who fear the Lord will honor their father.
7and they will serve their parents
as their masters.
8Honor your father in action and word
so that a blessing will come
from him to you,
9since a father’s blessing
supports his children’s families,
but a mother’s curse
undermines their foundations.
10Don’t glorify yourself
in your father’s disgrace,
because your father’s disgrace
brings you no credit.
11A father’s honor is the starting point
for his children’s reputation,
and a mother in disrepute
is a disgrace to her children.
12My child, help your father in his old age,
and don’t give him grief during his life.
13And if his understanding fails,
be tolerant,
and don’t shame him,
because you have all your faculties.
14Taking care of one’s father
won’t be forgotten.
It will be credited to you
against your sins.
15When you are in trouble,
this will be recalled about you;
like frost warmed by sunshine,
so your sins will melt away.
16Those who abandon their fathers
are like blasphemers,
and those who anger their mothers
have been cursed by the Lord.
Humility and charity
17My child, conduct your affairs
with gentleness,
and you will be loved
more than a person of good repute.#3.17 Heb a person who gives
18However great you become,
humble yourself more,
and you will find favor before the Lord,#3.18 LXXb adds 3:19 Many are lofty and of high repute, but to the gentle he reveals his secrets.
20because the Lord’s power is great,
and he is glorified by the humble.
21Don’t seek out things
that are too difficult for you,
and don’t investigate matters
too perplexing for you.
22Think about what
you have been commanded,
because you have no need
for matters that are hidden.
23Don’t meddle in things
beyond your own affairs
since you have already been shown things beyond human understanding.
24Speculation has led many people astray,
and false conjectures have
weakened their thoughts.#3.24 LXXb adds 3:25 If you have no pupils, you will be at a loss for light, and if you are without knowledge, don’t exult in it.
26A stubborn heart will come to misery,
and whoever loves danger
will be destroyed by it.
27A stubborn heart will be weighed down
by suffering,
and the sinner will keep on sinning.
28There’s no healing for the distress
of arrogant people,
because an evil plant
has taken root in them.
29The hearts of intelligent people
will think about a proverb,
and the wise desire people
who are ready to listen.
30Water will put out a blazing fire,
and giving to those in need
will make up for sins.
31Those who repay favors
consider the future,
and at the moment when they fall,
they will find support.
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Sirach 3: CEB
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