Sirach 3

NEW JERUSALEM	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
1 Children, listen to me for I am your father: do what I tel you, and so be safe;	1 Listen to me your father, O children; and act accordingly, that you may be kept in safety.
2 for the Lord honours the father above his children and upholds the rights of a mother over her sons.	2 For the Lord honored the father above the children, and he confirmed the right of the mother over her sons.
3 Whoever respects a father expiates sins,	3 Whoever honors his father atones for sins,
4 whoever honours a mother is like someone amassing a fortune.	4 and whoever glorifies his mother is like one who lays up treasure.
5 Whoever respects a father will in turn be happy with children, the day he prays for help, he will be heard.	5 Whoever honors his father will be gladdened by his own children, and when he prays he will be heard.
6 Long life comes to anyone who honours a father, whoever obeys the Lord makes a mother happy.	6 Whoever glorifies his father will have long life, and whoever obeys the Lord will refresh his mother;
7 Such a one serves parents as wel as the Lord.	7 he will serve his parents as his masters.
8 Respect your father in deed as wel as word, so that blessing may come on you from him;	8 Honor your father by word and deed, that a blessing from him 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 strengthens the houses of the children, but a mother's curse uproots their foundations.
10 Do not make a boast of disgrace overtaking your father, your father's disgrace reflects no honour onyou;	10 Do not glorify yourself by dishonoring your father, for your father's dishonor 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 For a man's glory comes from honoring his father, and it is a disgrace for children not to respect their mother.
12 My child, support your father in his old age, do not grieve him during his life.	12 O son, help your father in his old age, and do not grieve him 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 he is lacking in understanding, show forbearance; in all your strength do not despise him.
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, and against your sins it will be credited to you;
15 On your own day of ordeal God wil remember you: like frost in sunshine, your sins wil melt away.	15 in the day of your affliction it will be remembered in your favor; as frost in fair weather, your sins will melt away.
16 Whoever deserts a father is no better than a blasphemer, and whoever distresses a mother is accursedof the Lord.	16 Whoever forsakes his father is like a blasphemer, and whoever angers his mother is cursed by the Lord.
17 My child, be gentle in carrying out your business, and you will be better loved than a lavish giver.	17 My son, perform your tasks in meekness; then you will be loved by those whom God accepts.
18 The greater you are, the more humbly you should behave, and then you wil find favour with the Lord;	18 The greater you are, the more you must humble yourself; so you will find favor in the sight of the Lord.
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20 for great though the power of the Lord is, he accepts the homage of the humble.	20 For great is the might of the Lord; he is glorified by the humble.
21 Do not try to understand things that are too difficult for you, or try to discover what is beyond yourpowers.	21 Seek not what is too difficult for you, nor investigate what is beyond your power.
22 Concentrate on what has been assigned you, you have no need to worry over mysteries.	22 Reflect upon what has been assigned to you, for you do not need what is hidden.
23 Do not meddle with matters that are beyond you; what you have been taught already exceeds thescope of the human mind.	23 Do not meddle in what is beyond your tasks, for matters too great for human understanding have been shown you.
24 For many have been misled by their own notions, wicked presumption having warped their judgement.	24 For their hasty judgment has led many astray, and wrong opinion has caused their thoughts to slip.
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26 A stubborn heart wil come to a bad end, and whoever dal ies with danger wil perish in it.	26 A stubborn mind will be afflicted at the end, and whoever loves danger will perish by it.
27 A stubborn heart is weighed down with troubles, the sinner heaps sin on sin.	27 A stubborn mind will be burdened by troubles, and the sinner will heap sin upon sin.
28 For the disease of the proud there is no cure, since an evil growth has taken root there.	28 The affliction of the proud has no healing, for a plant of wickedness has taken root in him.
29 The heart of the sensible wil reflect on parables, an attentive ear is the sage's dream.	29 The mind of the intelligent man will ponder a parable, and an attentive ear is the wise man's desire.
30 Water puts out a blazing fire, almsgiving expiates sins.	30 Water extinguishes a blazing fire: so almsgiving atones for sin.
31 Whoever gives favours in return is mindful of the future; at the moment of falling, such a person wil findsupport.	31 Whoever requites favors gives thought to the future; at the moment of his falling he will find support.