Sirach 3:1–16
1 aHearken, ye children, to the judgement of your fathera,
G And do thereafter, bthat ye may be savedb.
G 2 For the Lord hath given the father glory as touching the children,
And hath established the judgement of the mother as touching the sonsc.
3 dHe that honoureth his father emaketh atonement for sinsed,
4 And as one that layeth up treasure is he that honoureth his mother.
5 He that honoureth his father shall have joy of his childrenf,
And what time he prayeth he shall be heard.
6 He that giveth glory to his father shall have length of days,
S g And he that hgiveth rest toh his motheri shall receive reward from Godg.
70 248 253 7 kHe that feareth the Lord honoureth his fatherk,
lAnd serveth his parents as mastersl.
HA 8 My sonll, in word and in deed honour thy fatherm,
That nevery blessingn may overtake thee.
9 The blessing of a father establisheth o(his) seedo,
But the curse of a mother rooteth up the ooyoung plantoo.
10 Glorify not thyself in the dishonour of thy father,
For that is no glory to theep.
11 A man’s glory is the glory of his father,
ppAnd he that dishonourethq his mother rmultiplieth sinrpp.
G 12 My sons, thelp thy father in his old aget,
HA And ttgrieve himtt not uall the days of hisuu lifeu;
HA 13 And even if his understanding fail, be considerate with him,
And dishonour him not vall the days of his lifev.
14 Benevolence to a father shall not be blotted out,
And as a substitute for sins it shall be firmly plantedw.
15 In the day of affliction it shall be remembered ‘to thy credit’,
It shall obliterate thine iniquities as heat (disperseth) hoar-frost.
16 xAs one that acteth presumptuouslyx is he that despiseth his father,
And as one that provoketh his Creator is he that cursethy his mother.
(i) 3:17–25. On the Need of Humility in all things