Sirach Chapter 3

English (Douay-Rheims)

1 The sons of wisdom are the church of the just: and their generation, obedience and love.
2 Children, hear the judgment of your father, and so do that you may be saved.
3 For God hath made the father honourable to the children: and seeking the judgment of the mothers, hath confirmed it upon the children.
4 He that loveth God, shall obtain pardon for his sins by prayer, and shall refrain himself from them, and shall be heard in the prayer of days.
5 And he that honoureth his mother is as one that layeth up a treasure.
6 He that honoureth his father shall have joy in his own children, and in the day of his prayer he shall be heard.
7 He that honoureth his father shall enjoy a long life: and he that obeyeth the father, shall be a comfort to his mother.
8 He that feareth the Lord, honoureth his parents, and will serve them as his masters that brought him into the world.
9 Honour thy father, in work and word, and all patience,
10 That a blessing may come upon thee from him, and his blessing may remain in the latter end.
11 The father's blessing establisheth the houses of the children: but the mother's curse rooteth up the foundation.
12 Glory not in the dishonour of thy father: for his shame is no glory to thee.
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.
14 Son, support the old age of thy father, and grieve him not in his life;
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.
16 For good shall be repaid to thee for the sin of thy mother.
17 And in justice thou shalt be built up, and in the day of affliction thou shalt be remembered: and thy sins shall melt away as the ice in the fair warm weather.
18 Of what an evil fame is he that forsaketh his father: and he is cursed of God that angereth his mother.

19 My son, do thy works in meekness, and thou shalt be beloved above the glory of men.
20 The greater thou art, the more humble thyself in all things, and thou shalt find grace before God:
21 For great is the power of God alone, and he is honoured by the humble.
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.
23 For it is not necessary for thee to see with thy eyes those things that are hid.
24 In unnecessary matters be not over curious, and in many of his works thou shalt not be inquisitive.
25 For many things are shown to thee above the understanding of men.
26 And the suspicion of them hath deceived many, and hath detained their minds in vanity.
27 A hard heart shall fear evil at the last: and he that loveth danger shall perish in it.
28 A heart that goeth two ways shall not have success, and the perverse of heart shall be scandalized therein.
29 A wicked heart shall be laden with sorrows, and the sinner will add sin to sin.
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.
31 The heart of the wise is understood in wisdom, and a good ear will hear wisdom with all desire.
32 A wise heart, and which hath understanding, will abstain from sins, 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 showeth favour: he remembereth him afterwards, and in the time of his fall he shall find a sure stay.

Old Testament first published 1609 by the English College at Douay
New Testament first published 1582 by the English College at Rheims
Revised and Annotated 1749 by Bishop Richard Challoner
Imprimatur. +James Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore, September 1, 1899

Latin (Clementine Vulgate)

1 Filii sapientiæ ecclesia justorum,
et natio illorum obedientia et dilectio.
2 Judicium patris audite, filii,
et sic facite, ut salvi sitis.
3 Deus enim honoravit patrem in filiis:
et judicium matris exquirens, firmavit in filios.
4 Qui diligit Deum exorabit pro peccatis,
et continebit se ab illis,
et in oratione dierum exaudietur.
5 Et sicut qui thesaurizat,
ita et qui honorificat matrem suam.
6 Qui honorat patrem suum jucundabitur in filiis,
et in die orationis suæ exaudietur.
7 Qui honorat patrem suum vita vivet longiore,
et qui obedit patri refrigerabit matrem.
8 Qui timet Dominum honorat parentes,
et quasi dominis serviet his qui se genuerunt.
9 In opere, et sermone, et omni patientia, honora patrem tuum,
10 ut superveniat tibi benedictio ab eo,
et benedictio illius in novissimo maneat.
11 Benedictio patris firmat domos filiorum:
maledictio autem matris eradicat fundamenta.
12 Ne glorieris in contumelia patris tui:
non enim est tibi gloria ejus confusio.
13 Gloria enim hominis ex honore patris sui,
et dedecus filii pater sine honore.
14 Fili, suscipe senectam patris tui,
et non contristes eum in vita illius:
15 et si defecerit sensu, veniam da,
et ne spernas eum in virtute tua:
eleemosyna enim patris non erit in oblivione.
16 Nam pro peccato matris restituetur tibi bonum:
17 et in justitia ædificabitur tibi,
et in die tribulationis commemorabitur tui,
et sicut in sereno glacies, solventur peccata tua.
18 Quam malæ famæ est qui derelinquit patrem,
et est maledictus a Deo qui exasperat matrem!

19 Fili, in mansuetudine opera tua perfice,
et super hominum gloriam diligeris.
20 Quanto magnus es, humilia te in omnibus,
et coram Deo invenies gratiam:
21 quoniam magna potentia Dei solius,
et ab humilibus honoratur.
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 Non est enim tibi necessarium
ea, quæ abscondita sunt, videre oculis tuis.
24 In supervacuis rebus noli scrutari multipliciter,
et in pluribus operibus ejus non eris curiosus.
25 Plurima enim super sensum hominum ostensa sunt tibi:
26 multos quoque supplantavit suspicio illorum,
et in vanitate detinuit sensus illorum.
27 Cor durum habebit male in novissimo,
et qui amat periculum in illo peribit.
28 Cor ingrediens duas vias non habebit successus,
et pravus corde in illis scandalizabitur.
29 Cor nequam gravabitur in doloribus,
et peccator adjiciet ad peccandum.
30 Synagogæ superborum non erit sanitas,
frutex enim peccati radicabitur in illis, et non intelligetur.
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.

Transcribed as part of the Clementine Vulgate Project
Please notify the original transcriber (little.mouth@soon.com) of any errors in this Latin edition

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