The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Son of Sirach 03
1 Hear me, your father, O my children,
and do what you hear, that you all may
be safe.
2 For the Lord honors the father over the
children, andhas confirmedthe judgment ofthe
mother over her sons.
3 He who honors his father will make
atonement for sins.
4 He who gives glory to his mother is as
one who lays up treasure.
5 Whoever honors his father will have joy
in his own children. He will be heard
in the day of his prayer.
6 He who gives glory to his father will have
length of days. He who listens to the Lord will bring
rest to his mother,
7 † and will serve under his parents,
as to masters.
8 Honor your father in deed and word,
that a blessing may come upon you
from him.
9 For the blessing of the father establishes
the houses of children, but the curse of
the mother roots out the foundations.
10 Don’t glorify yourself in the dishonor of
your father, for your father’s dishonor
is no glory to you.
11 For the glory of a man is from the honor
of his father, and a mother in dishonor is
a reproach to her children.
12 My son, help your father in his old age,
and don’t grieve him as long as he lives.
13 If he fails in understanding, have
patience with him. Don’t dishonor him
in your full strength.
14 For the kindness to your father will not
be forgotten. Instead of sins it will be
added to build you up.
15 In the day of your affliction it will be
remembered for you, as fair weather upon ice,
so your sins will also melt away.
16 He who forsakes his father is as a blasphemer.
He who provokes his mother is cursed
by the Lord.
17 My son, go on with your business in
humility; so you will be loved by
an acceptable man.
18 The greater youare, humble yourselfthe
more, and you will find favor before the Lord.
20 For the power of the Lord is great, and he
is glorified by those who are lowly.
21 Don’t seek things that are too hard for
you, and don’t search out things that are
above your strength.
22 Think about the things that have been
commanded you, for you have no need of the things that
are secret.
23 Don’t be overly busy in tasks that are
beyond you, for more things are shown to you than
men can understand.
24 For the conceit of many has led them
astray. Evil opinion has caused their judgment to slip.
25 §There is no light without eyes.
There is no wisdom without knowledge.
26 A stubborn heart will do badly at the
end. He who loves danger will perish in it.
27 A stubborn heart will be burdened with
troubles. The sinner will heap sin upon sins.
28 The calamity of the proud has no healing,
for a weed of wickedness has taken
root in him.
29The heart of the prudent willunderstand
a proverb. A wise man desires the ear of a listener.
30 Water will quench a flaming fire;
almsgiving will make atonement for
sins.
31 He who repays good turns is mindful of
that which comes afterward. In the time of
his falling he will find a support.