Sirach 3

NEW JERUSALEM	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Children, listen to me for I am your father: do what I tel you, and so be safe;	1 The sons of wisdom are the church of the just: and their generation, obedience and love.
2 for the Lord honours the father above his children and upholds the rights of a mother over her sons.	2 Children, hear the judgment of your father, and so do that you may be saved.
3 Whoever respects a father expiates sins,	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 whoever honours a mother is like someone amassing a fortune.	4 He that loveth God, shall obtain pardon for his sine by prayer, and shall refrain himself from them, and shall be heard in the prayer of days.
5 Whoever respects a father will in turn be happy with children, the day he prays for help, he will be heard.	5 And he that honoureth his mother is as one that layeth up a treasure.
6 Long life comes to anyone who honours a father, whoever obeys the Lord makes a mother happy.	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 Such a one serves parents as wel as the Lord.	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 Respect your father in deed as wel as word, so that blessing may come on you from him;	8 He that feareth the Lord, honoureth his parents, and will serve them as his masters that brought him into the world.
9 since a father's blessing makes his children's house firm, while a mother's curse tears up its foundations.	9 Honour thy father, in work and word, and all patience,
10 Do not make a boast of disgrace overtaking your father, your father's disgrace reflects no honour onyou;	10 That a blessing may come upon thee from him, and his blessing may remain in the latter end.
11 for a person's own honour derives from the respect shown to his father, and a mother held in dishonouris a reproach to her children.	11 The father's blessing establisheth the houses of the children: but the mother's curse rooteth up the foundation.
12 My child, support your father in his old age, do not grieve him during his life.	12 Glory not in the dishonour of thy father: for his shame is no glory to thee.
13 Even if his mind should fail, show him sympathy, do not despise him in your health and strength;	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 for kindness to a father will not be forgotten but wil serve as reparation for your sins.	14 Son, support the old age of thy father, and grieve him not in his life;
15 On your own day of ordeal God wil remember you: like frost in sunshine, your sins wil melt away.	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 Whoever deserts a father is no better than a blasphemer, and whoever distresses a mother is accursedof the Lord.	16 For good shall be repaid to thee for the sin of thy mother.
17 My child, be gentle in carrying out your business, and you will be better loved than a lavish giver.	17 And in justice thou shalt be built up, and in the day of affliction thou shalt be remembered: and thy sine shall melt away as the ice in the fair warm weather.
18 The greater you are, the more humbly you should behave, and then you wil find favour with the Lord;	18 Of what an evil fame is he that forsaketh his father: and he is cursed of God that angereth his mother.
19	19 My son, do thy works in meekness, and thou shalt be beloved above the glory of men.
20 for great though the power of the Lord is, he accepts the homage of the humble.	20 The greater thou art, the more humble thyself in all things, and thou shalt find grace before God:
21 Do not try to understand things that are too difficult for you, or try to discover what is beyond yourpowers.	21 For great is the power of God alone, and he is honoured by the humble.
22 Concentrate on what has been assigned you, you have no need to worry over mysteries.	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 Do not meddle with matters that are beyond you; what you have been taught already exceeds thescope of the human mind.	23 For it is not necessary for thee to see with thy eyes those things that are hid.
24 For many have been misled by their own notions, wicked presumption having warped their judgement.	24 In unnecessary matters be not over curious, and in many of his works thou shalt not be inquisitive.
25	25 For many things are shewn to thee above the understanding of men.
26 A stubborn heart wil come to a bad end, and whoever dal ies with danger wil perish in it.	26 And the suspicion of them hath deceived many, and hath detained their minds in vanity.
27 A stubborn heart is weighed down with troubles, the sinner heaps sin on sin.	27 A hard heart shall fear evil at the last: and he that loveth danger shall perish in it.
28 For the disease of the proud there is no cure, since an evil growth has taken root there.	28 A heart that goeth two ways shall not have success, and the perverse of heart shall be scandalized therein.
29 The heart of the sensible wil reflect on parables, an attentive ear is the sage's dream.	29 A wicked heart shall be laden with sorrows, and the sinner will add sin to sin.
30 Water puts out a blazing fire, almsgiving expiates sins.	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 Whoever gives favours in return is mindful of the future; at the moment of falling, such a person wil findsupport.	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 sine, 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.