Sirach 3

NEW JERUSALEM	VULGATA
1 Children, listen to me for I am your father: do what I tel you, and so be safe;	1 Filii sapientiæ ecclesia justorum, et natio illorum obedientia et dilectio.
2 for the Lord honours the father above his children and upholds the rights of a mother over her sons.	2 Judicium patris audite, filii, et sic facite, ut salvi sitis.
3 Whoever respects a father expiates sins,	3 Deus enim honoravit patrem in filiis : et judicium matris exquirens, firmavit in filios.
4 whoever honours a mother is like someone amassing a fortune.	4 Qui diligit Deum exorabit pro peccatis, et continebit se ab illis, et in oratione dierum exaudietur.
5 Whoever respects a father will in turn be happy with children, the day he prays for help, he will be heard.	5 Et sicut qui thesaurizat, ita et qui honorificat matrem suam.
6 Long life comes to anyone who honours a father, whoever obeys the Lord makes a mother happy.	6 Qui honorat patrem suum jucundabitur in filiis, et in die orationis suæ exaudietur.
7 Such a one serves parents as wel as the Lord.	7 Qui honorat patrem suum vita vivet longiore, et qui obedit patri refrigerabit matrem.
8 Respect your father in deed as wel as word, so that blessing may come on you from him;	8 Qui timet Dominum honorat parentes, et quasi dominis serviet his qui se genuerunt.
9 since a father's blessing makes his children's house firm, while a mother's curse tears up its foundations.	9 In opere, et sermone, et omni patientia, honora patrem tuum,
10 Do not make a boast of disgrace overtaking your father, your father's disgrace reflects no honour onyou;	10 ut superveniat tibi benedictio ab eo, et benedictio illius in novissimo maneat.
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 Benedictio patris firmat domos filiorum : maledictio autem matris eradicat fundamenta.
12 My child, support your father in his old age, do not grieve him during his life.	12 Ne glorieris in contumelia patris tui : non enim est tibi gloria ejus confusio.
13 Even if his mind should fail, show him sympathy, do not despise him in your health and strength;	13 Gloria enim hominis ex honore patris sui, et dedecus filii pater sine honore.
14 for kindness to a father will not be forgotten but wil serve as reparation for your sins.	14 Fili, suscipe senectam patris tui, et non contristes eum in vita illius :
15 On your own day of ordeal God wil remember you: like frost in sunshine, your sins wil melt away.	15 et si defecerit sensu, veniam da, et ne spernas eum in virtute tua : eleemosyna enim patris non erit in oblivione.
16 Whoever deserts a father is no better than a blasphemer, and whoever distresses a mother is accursedof the Lord.	16 Nam pro peccato matris restituetur tibi bonum :
17 My child, be gentle in carrying out your business, and you will be better loved than a lavish giver.	17 et in justitia ædificabitur tibi, et in die tribulationis commemorabitur tui, et sicut in sereno glacies, solventur peccata tua.
18 The greater you are, the more humbly you should behave, and then you wil find favour with the Lord;	18 Quam malæ famæ est qui derelinquit patrem, et est maledictus a Deo qui exasperat matrem !
19	19 Fili, in mansuetudine opera tua perfice, et super hominum gloriam diligeris.
20 for great though the power of the Lord is, he accepts the homage of the humble.	20 Quanto magnus es, humilia te in omnibus, et coram Deo invenies gratiam :
21 Do not try to understand things that are too difficult for you, or try to discover what is beyond yourpowers.	21 quoniam magna potentia Dei solius, et ab humilibus honoratur.
22 Concentrate on what has been assigned you, you have no need to worry over mysteries.	22 Altiora te ne quæsieris, et fortiora te ne scrutatus fueris : sed quæ præcepit tibi Deus, illa cogita semper, et in pluribus operibus ejus ne fueris curiosus.
23 Do not meddle with matters that are beyond you; what you have been taught already exceeds thescope of the human mind.	23 Non est enim tibi necessarium ea, quæ abscondita sunt, videre oculis tuis.
24 For many have been misled by their own notions, wicked presumption having warped their judgement.	24 In supervacuis rebus noli scrutari multipliciter, et in pluribus operibus ejus non eris curiosus.
25	25 Plurima enim super sensum hominum ostensa sunt tibi :
26 A stubborn heart wil come to a bad end, and whoever dal ies with danger wil perish in it.	26 multos quoque supplantavit suspicio illorum, et in vanitate detinuit sensus illorum.
27 A stubborn heart is weighed down with troubles, the sinner heaps sin on sin.	27 Cor durum habebit male in novissimo, et qui amat periculum in illo peribit.
28 For the disease of the proud there is no cure, since an evil growth has taken root there.	28 Cor ingrediens duas vias non habebit successus, et pravus corde in illis scandalizabitur.
29 The heart of the sensible wil reflect on parables, an attentive ear is the sage's dream.	29 Cor nequam gravabitur in doloribus, et peccator adjiciet ad peccandum.
30 Water puts out a blazing fire, almsgiving expiates sins.	30 Synagogæ superborum non erit sanitas, frutex enim peccati radicabitur in illis, et non intelligetur.
31 Whoever gives favours in return is mindful of the future; at the moment of falling, such a person wil findsupport.	31 Cor sapientis intelligitur in sapientia, et auris bona audiet cum omni concupiscentia sapientiam.
	32 Sapiens cor et intelligibile abstinebit se a peccatis, et in operibus justitiæ successus habebit.
	33 Ignem ardentem exstinguit aqua, et eleemosyna resistit peccatis :
	34 et Deus prospector est ejus qui reddit gratiam : meminit ejus in posterum, et in tempore casus sui inveniet firmamentum.