Sample Sirach « 3 »

3Hear me, your father, O my children,

and do what you hear, that you all may be saved.

2For the Lord has given the father glory concerning the children,

and has confirmed the judgement of the mother concerning the sons.

3He who honors his father will make atonement for sins.

4He that gives glory to his mother is as one who lays up treasure.

5Whoever honors his father will have joy in his own children.

He will be heard in the day of his prayer.

6He who gives glory to his father will have length of days.

He who listens to the Lord will bring rest to his mother,

71 and will serve under his parents, as to masters.

8Honor your father in deed and word,

that a blessing may come upon you from him.

9For the blessing of the father establishes the houses of children,

but the curse of the mother roots out the foundations.


10Don’t glorify yourself in the dishonor of your father,

for your father’s dishonor is no glory to you.

11For the glory of a man is from the honor of his father,

and a mother in dishonor is a reproach to her children.

12My son, help your father in his old age,

and don’t grieve him as long as he lives.

13If he fails in understanding, have patience with him.

Don’t dishonor him in your full strength.

14For the relieving of your father will not be forgotten.

Instead of sins it will be added to build you up.

15In the day of your affliction it will remember you,

as fair weather upon ice,

ao will your sins also melt away.

16He who forsakes his father is as a blasphemer.

He who provokes his mother is cursed by the Lord.


17My son, go on with your business in humility;

so will you be loved by an acceptable man.

18The greater you are, humble yourself the more,

and you will find favor before the Lord. 192

20For the power of the Lord is great,

and he is glorified by those who are lowly.

21Don’t seek things that are too hard for you,

and don’t search out things that are above your strength.

22Think about the things that have been commanded you,

for you have no need of the things that are secret.

23Don’t be overly busy in your superfluous works,

for more things are showed to you than men can understand.

24For the conceit of many has led them astray.

Evil opinion has caused their judgement to slip.

253There is no light without eyes.

There is no wisdom without knowledge.


26A stubborn heart will do badly at the end.

He who loves danger will perish in it.

27A stubborn heart will be burdened with troubles.

The sinner will heap sin upon sins.

28The calamity of the proud is no healing,

for a weed of wickedness has taken root in him.

29The heart of the prudent will understand a parable.

A wise man desires the ear of a listener.

30Water will quench a flaming fire;

almsgiving will make atonement for sins.

31He repays good turns is mindful of that which comes afterward.

In the time of his falling he will find a support.

1 3:7 Some manuscripts add those who fear the Lord honor their father,

2 3:19 Some manuscripts add Many are lofty and renowned, but he reveals his secrets to the humble.

3 3:25 Some manuscripts omit verse 25.