Sirach 3

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW JERUSALEM
1 The sons of wisdom are the church of the just: and their generation, obedience and love.	1 Children, listen to me for I am your father: do what I tel you, and so be safe;
2 Children, hear the judgment of your father, and so do that you may be saved.	2 for the Lord honours the father above his children and upholds the rights of a mother over her sons.
3 For God hath made the father honourable to the children: and seeking the judgment of the mothers, hath confirmed it upon the children.	3 Whoever respects a father expiates sins,
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.	4 whoever honours a mother is like someone amassing a fortune.
5 And he that honoureth his mother is as one that layeth up a treasure.	5 Whoever respects a father will in turn be happy with children, the day he prays for help, he will be heard.
6 He that honoureth his father shall have joy in his own children, and in the day of his prayer he shall be heard.	6 Long life comes to anyone who honours a father, whoever obeys the Lord makes a mother happy.
7 He that honoureth his father shall enjoy a long life: and he that obeyeth the father, shall be a comfort to his mother.	7 Such a one serves parents as wel as the Lord.
8 He that feareth the Lord, honoureth his parents, and will serve them as his masters that brought him into the world.	8 Respect your father in deed as wel as word, so that blessing may come on you from him;
9 Honour thy father, in work and word, and all patience,	9 since a father's blessing makes his children's house firm, while a mother's curse tears up its foundations.
10 That a blessing may come upon thee from him, and his blessing may remain in the latter end.	10 Do not make a boast of disgrace overtaking your father, your father's disgrace reflects no honour onyou;
11 The father's blessing establisheth the houses of the children: but the mother's curse rooteth up the foundation.	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.
12 Glory not in the dishonour of thy father: for his shame is no glory to thee.	12 My child, support your father in his old age, do not grieve him during his life.
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.	13 Even if his mind should fail, show him sympathy, do not despise him in your health and strength;
14 Son, support the old age of thy father, and grieve him not in his life;	14 for kindness to a father will not be forgotten but wil serve as reparation for your sins.
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.	15 On your own day of ordeal God wil remember you: like frost in sunshine, your sins wil melt away.
16 For good shall be repaid to thee for the sin of thy mother.	16 Whoever deserts a father is no better than a blasphemer, and whoever distresses a mother is accursedof the Lord.
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.	17 My child, be gentle in carrying out your business, and you will be better loved than a lavish giver.
18 Of what an evil fame is he that forsaketh his father: and he is cursed of God that angereth his mother.	18 The greater you are, the more humbly you should behave, and then you wil find favour with the Lord;
19 My son, do thy works in meekness, and thou shalt be beloved above the glory of men.	19
20 The greater thou art, the more humble thyself in all things, and thou shalt find grace before God:	20 for great though the power of the Lord is, he accepts the homage of the humble.
21 For great is the power of God alone, and he is honoured by the humble.	21 Do not try to understand things that are too difficult for you, or try to discover what is beyond yourpowers.
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.	22 Concentrate on what has been assigned you, you have no need to worry over mysteries.
23 For it is not necessary for thee to see with thy eyes those things that are hid.	23 Do not meddle with matters that are beyond you; what you have been taught already exceeds thescope of the human mind.
24 In unnecessary matters be not over curious, and in many of his works thou shalt not be inquisitive.	24 For many have been misled by their own notions, wicked presumption having warped their judgement.
25 For many things are shewn to thee above the understanding of men.	25
26 And the suspicion of them hath deceived many, and hath detained their minds in vanity.	26 A stubborn heart wil come to a bad end, and whoever dal ies with danger wil perish in it.
27 A hard heart shall fear evil at the last: and he that loveth danger shall perish in it.	27 A stubborn heart is weighed down with troubles, the sinner heaps sin on sin.
28 A heart that goeth two ways shall not have success, and the perverse of heart shall be scandalized therein.	28 For the disease of the proud there is no cure, since an evil growth has taken root there.
29 A wicked heart shall be laden with sorrows, and the sinner will add sin to sin.	29 The heart of the sensible wil reflect on parables, an attentive ear is the sage's dream.
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.	30 Water puts out a blazing fire, almsgiving expiates sins.
31 The heart of the wise is understood in wisdom, and a good ear will hear wisdom with all desire.	31 Whoever gives favours in return is mindful of the future; at the moment of falling, such a person wil findsupport.
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.