Sirach 3

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Children, listen to me for I am your father: do what I tel you, and so be safe;	1 Children, pay heed to a father's right; do so that you may live.
2 for the Lord honours the father above his children and upholds the rights of a mother over her sons.	2 For the LORD sets a father in honor over his children; a mother's authority he confirms over her sons.
3 Whoever respects a father expiates sins,	3 He who honors his father atones for sins;
4 whoever honours a mother is like someone amassing a fortune.	4 he stores up riches who reveres his mother.
5 Whoever respects a father will in turn be happy with children, the day he prays for help, he will be heard.	5 He who honors his father is gladdened by children, and when he prays he is heard.
6 Long life comes to anyone who honours a father, whoever obeys the Lord makes a mother happy.	6 He who reveres his father will live a long life; he obeys the LORD who brings comfort to his mother.
7 Such a one serves parents as wel as the Lord.	7 He who fears the LORD honors his father, and serves his parents as rulers.
8 Respect your father in deed as wel as word, so that blessing may come on you from him;	8 In word and deed honor your father that his blessing may come upon you;
9 since a father's blessing makes his children's house firm, while a mother's curse tears up its foundations.	9 For a father's blessing gives a family firm roots, but a mother's curse uproots the growing plant.
10 Do not make a boast of disgrace overtaking your father, your father's disgrace reflects no honour onyou;	10 Glory not in your father's shame, for his shame is no glory to you!
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 His father's honor is a man's glory; disgrace for her children, a mother's shame.
12 My child, support your father in his old age, do not grieve him during his life.	12 My son, take care of your father when he is old; grieve him not as long as he lives.
13 Even if his mind should fail, show him sympathy, do not despise him in your health and strength;	13 Even if his mind fail, be considerate with him; revile him not in the fullness of your strength.
14 for kindness to a father will not be forgotten but wil serve as reparation for your sins.	14 For kindness to a father will not be forgotten, it will serve as a sin offering--it will take lasting root.
15 On your own day of ordeal God wil remember you: like frost in sunshine, your sins wil melt away.	15 In time of tribulation it will be recalled to your advantage, like warmth upon frost it will melt away your sins.
16 Whoever deserts a father is no better than a blasphemer, and whoever distresses a mother is accursedof the Lord.	16 A blasphemer is he who despises his father; accursed of his Creator, he who angers his mother.
17 My child, be gentle in carrying out your business, and you will be better loved than a lavish giver.	17 My son, conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts.
18 The greater you are, the more humbly you should behave, and then you wil find favour with the Lord;	18 Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God.
19	19 For great is the power of God; by the humble he is glorified.
20 for great though the power of the Lord is, he accepts the homage of the humble.	20 What is too sublime for you, seek not, into things beyond your strength search not.
21 Do not try to understand things that are too difficult for you, or try to discover what is beyond yourpowers.	21 What is committed to you, attend to; for what is hidden is not your concern.
22 Concentrate on what has been assigned you, you have no need to worry over mysteries.	22 With what is too much for you meddle not, when shown things beyond human understanding.
23 Do not meddle with matters that are beyond you; what you have been taught already exceeds thescope of the human mind.	23 Their own opinion has misled many, and false reasoning unbalanced their judgment.
24 For many have been misled by their own notions, wicked presumption having warped their judgement.	24 Where the pupil of the eye is missing, there is no light, and where there is no knowledge, there is no wisdom.
25	25 A stubborn man will fare badly in the end, and he who loves danger will perish in it.
26 A stubborn heart wil come to a bad end, and whoever dal ies with danger wil perish in it.	26 A stubborn man will be burdened with sorrow; a sinner will heap sin upon sin.
27 A stubborn heart is weighed down with troubles, the sinner heaps sin on sin.	27 For the affliction of the proud man there is no cure; he is the offshoot of an evil plant.
28 For the disease of the proud there is no cure, since an evil growth has taken root there.	28 The mind of a sage appreciates proverbs, and an attentive ear is the wise man's joy.
29 The heart of the sensible wil reflect on parables, an attentive ear is the sage's dream.	29 Water quenches a flaming fire, and alms atone for sins.
30 Water puts out a blazing fire, almsgiving expiates sins.	30 He who does a kindness is remembered afterward; when he falls, he finds a support.
31 Whoever gives favours in return is mindful of the future; at the moment of falling, such a person wil findsupport.