Sirach 3 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Duties toward Parents

3 Listen to me your father, O children;
act accordingly, that you may be safe.
2 For the Lord honors a father above his children,
and he confirms a mother’s judgment over her sons.(A)
3 Those who honor their father atone for sins,(B)
4 and those who respect their mother are like those who lay up treasure.(C)
5 Those who honor their father will have joy in their children,
and when they pray they will be heard.
6 Those who respect their father will have long life,
and those who honor[a] their mother obey the Lord;[b](D)
7 they will serve their parents as their masters.[c](E)
8 Honor your father by word and deed,
that his blessing may come upon you.(F)
9 For a father’s blessing strengthens the houses of the children,
but a mother’s curse uproots their foundations.(G)
10 Do not glorify yourself by your father’s dishonor,
for your father’s dishonor is no glory to you.
11 The honor of one’s father is one’s own glory,
and a mother dishonored is a disgrace to her children.(H)

12 My child, help your father in his old age,
and do not grieve him as long as he lives;(I)
13 even if his mind fails, be patient with him;
do not despise him because you have all your faculties.
14 For kindness to a father will not be forgotten
and will be credited to you against your sins;(J)
15 in the day of your distress it will be remembered in your favor;
like frost in fair weather, your sins will melt away.
16 Whoever forsakes a father is like a blasphemer,
and whoever angers a mother is cursed by the Lord.(K)

Humility

17 My child, perform your tasks with humility;
then you will be loved more than a giver of gifts.[d]
18 The greater you are, the more you must humble yourself;
so you will find favor in the sight of the Lord.[e](L)
20 For great is the might of the Lord,
but by the humble he is glorified.
21 Neither seek what is too difficult for you
nor investigate what is beyond your power.(M)
22 Reflect upon what you have been commanded,
for what is hidden is not your concern.(N)
23 In matters greater than your own affairs, do not meddle,
for things beyond human understanding have been shown you.(O)
24 For their conceit has led many astray,
and wrong opinion has impaired their judgment.(P)

25 Without eyes there is no light;
without knowledge there is no wisdom.[f]
26 A stubborn mind will fare badly at the end,
and whoever loves danger will perish in it.
27 A stubborn mind will be burdened by troubles,
and the sinner adds sin to sins.(Q)
28 When calamity befalls the proud, there is no healing,
for an evil plant has taken root in him.(R)
29 The mind of the intelligent appreciates proverbs,
and an attentive ear is the desire of the wise.(S)

Alms for the Poor

30 As water extinguishes a blazing fire,
so almsgiving atones for sin.(T)
31 Those who repay favors give thought to the future;
when they fall they will find support.(U)

Footnotes

  1. 3.6Heb: Other ancient authorities read comfort
  2. 3.6Heb: Gk and those who obey the Lord honor their mother
  3. 3.7In other ancient authorities this line is preceded by Those who fear the Lord honor their father,
  4. 3.17Heb Syr: Gk more than an acceptable person
  5. 3.18Other ancient authorities add as 3.19, Many are lofty and renowned, but to the humble he reveals his secrets.
  6. 3.25Heb: Other ancient authorities lack 3.25

Cross references

  1. 3.2 : Ex 20.12; Sir 7.27
  2. 3.3 : vv 14, 15
  3. 3.4 : 1 Tim 6.19
  4. 3.6 : Ex 20.12
  5. 3.7 : Lk 2.51; Eph 6.1; Col 3.20
  6. 3.8 : Ex 20.12; Sir 7.27
  7. 3.9 : Gen 27.27–29; 49.2–27
  8. 3.11 : Prov 17.6
  9. 3.12 : Mt 15.4–6; Mk 7.10–13; 1 Tim 5.4
  10. 3.14 : v 3; Prov 23.22
  11. 3.16 : Prov 30.17
  12. 3.18 : Prov 3.34; Phil 2.3; 1 Pet 5.5
  13. 3.21 : Ps 131.1; Rom 12.3
  14. 3.22 : Deut 29.29
  15. 3.23 : 2 Thess 3.11
  16. 3.24 : Prov 26.12; Rom 12.16
  17. 3.27 : Isa 30.1; Sir 5.5; 7.8
  18. 3.28 : Prov 28.14
  19. 3.29 : Prov 1.6
  20. 3.30 : Ps 41.1, 2; Dan 4.27; Tob 4.10
  21. 3.31 : Mt 5.7

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3 Dearworthy sons, hear ye the doom of the father; and do ye so, (so) that ye be safe (or saved). [The doom of the father heareth, ye loved sons; and so doeth, that ye be safe.] 2 For why God honoured the father in (or over) (the) sons, and he seeketh, and hath made steadfast the doom of the mother ...
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Sirach 3 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Duties toward Parents3 Listen to me your father, O children; and act accordingly, that you may be kept in safety.2 For the Lord honored the father above the children, and he confirmed the right of the mother over her sons.3 Whoever honors his father atones for sins,4 and whoever glorifies his mothe...
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Sirach 3 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Duties toward Parents3 Listen to me your father, O children; and act accordingly, that you may be kept in safety.2 For the Lord honored the father above the children, and he confirmed the right of the mother over her sons.3 Whoever honors his father atones for sins,4 and whoever glorifies his mothe...
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Sirach 3 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Duties toward Parents3 Listen to me your father, O children; act accordingly, that you may be kept in safety.2 For the Lord honors a father above his children, and he confirms a mother’s right over her children.3 Those who honor their father atone for sins,4 and those who respect their mother are l...
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Sirach 3 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Duties towards Parents3 Listen to me your father, O children; act accordingly, that you may be kept in safety.2 For the Lord honours a father above his children, and he confirms a mother’s right over her children.3 Those who honour their father atone for sins,4 and those who respect their mother ar...
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Sirach 3 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Duties toward Parents3 Listen to me your father, O children; act accordingly, that you may be safe.2 For the Lord honors a father above his children, and he confirms a mother’s judgment over her sons.(A)3 Those who honor their father atone for sins,(B)4 and those who respect their mother are like t...
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Sirach 3 - Good News Translation (GNT)

Duties to Parents3 Children, listen to me; I am your father. Do what I tell you and you will be safe, 2 for the Lord has given fathers authority over their children and given children the obligation to obey their mothers. 3 If you respect your father, you can make up for your sins, 4 and if you hono...
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Sirach 3 - Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)

3 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 chi...
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Sirach 3 - Common English Bible (CEB)

Duties to parents3 Listen to a father’s warning, children, and act accordingly so that you may be safe.2 The Lord gives pride of placeto a father above his childrenand establishes a mother’s judgmentabove that of her offspring.3 Those who honor their fatherswill make up for their own sins,4 and tho...
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