Sirach 3

Apo

1 Hear me your father, O children, and do thereafter, that ye may be safe.

2 For the Lord hath given the father honour over the children, and hath confirmed the authority of the mother over the sons.

3 Whoso honoureth his father maketh an atonement for his sins:

4 And he that honoureth his mother is as one that layeth up treasure.

5 Whoso honoureth his father shall have joy of his own children; and when he maketh his prayer, he shall be heard.

6 He that honoureth his father shall have a long life; and he that is obedient unto the Lord shall be a comfort to his mother.

7 He that feareth the Lord will honour his father, and will do service unto his parents, as to his masters.

8 Honour thy father and mother both in word and deed, that a blessing may come upon thee from them.

9 For the blessing of the father establisheth the houses of children; but the curse of the mother rooteth out foundations.

10 Glory not in the dishonour of thy father; for thy father's dishonour is no glory unto thee.

11 For the glory of a man is from the honour of his father; and a mother in dishonour is a reproach to the children.

12 My son, help thy father in his age, and grieve him not as long as he liveth.

13 And if his understanding fail, have patience with him; and despise him not when thou art in thy full strength.

14 For the relieving of thy father shall not be forgotten: and instead of sins it shall be added to build thee up.

15 In the day of thine affliction it shall be remembered; thy sins also shall melt away, as the ice in the fair warm weather.

16 He that forsaketh his father is as a blasphemer; and he that angereth his mother is cursed: of God.

17 My son, go on with thy business in meekness; so shalt thou be beloved of him that is approved.

18 The greater thou art, the more humble thyself, and thou shalt find favour before the Lord.

19 Many are in high place, and of renown: but mysteries are revealed unto the meek.

20 For the power of the Lord is great, and he is honoured of the lowly.

21 Seek not out things that are too hard for thee, neither search the things that are above thy strength.

22 But what is commanded thee, think thereupon with reverence, for it is not needful for thee to see with thine eyes the things that are in secret.

23 Be not curious in unnecessary matters: for more things are shewed unto thee than men understand.

24 For many are deceived by their own vain opinion; and an evil suspicion hath overthrown their judgment.

25 Without eyes thou shalt want light: profess not the knowledge therefore that thou hast not.

26 A stubborn heart shall fare evil at the last; and he that loveth danger shall perish therein.

27 An obstinate heart shall be laden with sorrows; and the wicked man shall heap sin upon sin.

28 In the punishment of the proud there is no remedy; for the plant of wickedness hath taken root in him.

29 The heart of the prudent will understand a parable; and an attentive ear is the desire of a wise man.

30 Water will quench a flaming fire; and alms maketh an atonement for sins.

31 And he that requiteth good turns is mindful of that which may come hereafter; and when he falleth, he shall find a stay.

Sep

1 ἐμοῦ τοῦ πατρὸς ἀκούσατε τέκνα καὶ οὕτως ποιήσατε ἵνα σωθῆτε

2 ὁ γὰρ κύριος ἐδόξασεν πατέρα ἐπὶ τέκνοις καὶ κρίσιν μητρὸς ἐστερέωσεν ἐφ᾽ υἱοῖς

3 ὁ τιμῶν πατέρα ἐξιλάσκεται ἁμαρτίας

4 καὶ ὡς ὁ ἀποθησαυρίζων ὁ δοξάζων μητέρα αὐτοῦ

5 ὁ τιμῶν πατέρα εὐφρανθήσεται ὑπὸ τέκνων καὶ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ προσευχῆς αὐτοῦ εἰσακουσθήσεται

6 ὁ δοξάζων πατέρα μακροημερεύσει καὶ ὁ εἰσακούων κυρίου ἀναπαύσει μητέρα αὐτοῦ

7 καὶ ὡς δεσπόταις δουλεύσει ἐν τοῖς γεννήσασιν αὐτόν

8 ἐν ἔργῳ καὶ λόγῳ τίμα τὸν πατέρα σου ἵνα ἐπέλθῃ σοι εὐλογία παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ

9 εὐλογία γὰρ πατρὸς στηρίζει οἴκους τέκνων κατάρα δὲ μητρὸς ἐκριζοῖ θεμέλια

10 μὴ δοξάζου ἐν ἀτιμίᾳ πατρός σου οὐ γάρ ἐστίν σοι δόξα πατρὸς ἀτιμία

11 ἡ γὰρ δόξα ἀνθρώπου ἐκ τιμῆς πατρὸς αὐτοῦ καὶ ὄνειδος τέκνοις μήτηρ ἐν ἀδοξίᾳ

12 τέκνον ἀντιλαβοῦ ἐν γήρᾳ πατρός σου καὶ μὴ λυπήσῃς αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ ζωῇ αὐτοῦ

13 κἂν ἀπολείπῃ σύνεσιν συγγνώμην ἔχε καὶ μὴ ἀτιμάσῃς αὐτὸν ἐν πάσῃ ἰσχύι σου

14 ἐλεημοσύνη γὰρ πατρὸς οὐκ ἐπιλησθήσεται καὶ ἀντὶ ἁμαρτιῶν προσανοικοδομηθήσεταί σοι

15 ἐν ἡμέρᾳ θλίψεώς σου ἀναμνησθήσεταί σου ὡς εὐδία ἐπὶ παγετῷ οὕτως ἀναλυθήσονταί σου αἱ ἁμαρτίαι

16 ὡς βλάσφημος ὁ ἐγκαταλιπὼν πατέρα καὶ κεκατηραμένος ὑπὸ κυρίου ὁ παροργίζων μητέρα αὐτοῦ

17 τέκνον ἐν πραΰτητι τὰ ἔργα σου διέξαγε καὶ ὑπὸ ἀνθρώπου δεκτοῦ ἀγαπηθήσῃ

18 ὅσῳ μέγας εἶ τοσούτῳ ταπείνου σεαυτόν καὶ ἔναντι κυρίου εὑρήσεις χάριν

20 ὅτι μεγάλη ἡ δυναστεία τοῦ κυρίου καὶ ὑπὸ τῶν ταπεινῶν δοξάζεται

21 χαλεπώτερά σου μὴ ζήτει καὶ ἰσχυρότερά σου μὴ ἐξέταζε

22 ἃ προσετάγη σοι ταῦτα διανοοῦ οὐ γάρ ἐστίν σοι χρεία τῶν κρυπτῶν

23 ἐν τοῖς περισσοῖς τῶν ἔργων σου μὴ περιεργάζου πλείονα γὰρ συνέσεως ἀνθρώπων ὑπεδείχθη σοι

24 πολλοὺς γὰρ ἐπλάνησεν ἡ ὑπόλημψις αὐτῶν καὶ ὑπόνοια πονηρὰ ὠλίσθησεν διανοίας αὐτῶν

26 καρδία σκληρὰ κακωθήσεται ἐπ᾽ ἐσχάτων καὶ ὁ ἀγαπῶν κίνδυνον ἐν αὐτῷ ἀπολεῖται

27 καρδία σκληρὰ βαρυνθήσεται πόνοις καὶ ὁ ἁμαρτωλὸς προσθήσει ἁμαρτίαν ἐφ᾽ ἁμαρτίαις

28 ἐπαγωγῇ ὑπερηφάνου οὐκ ἔστιν ἴασις φυτὸν γὰρ πονηρίας ἐρρίζωκεν ἐν αὐτῷ

29 καρδία συνετοῦ διανοηθήσεται παραβολήν καὶ οὖς ἀκροατοῦ ἐπιθυμία σοφοῦ

30 πῦρ φλογιζόμενον ἀποσβέσει ὕδωρ καὶ ἐλεημοσύνη ἐξιλάσεται ἁμαρτίας

31 ὁ ἀνταποδιδοὺς χάριτας μέμνηται εἰς τὰ μετὰ ταῦτα καὶ ἐν καιρῷ πτώσεως αὐτοῦ εὑρήσει στήριγμα

Vul

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.]