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Ecclesiasticus / Sirach - Chapter 3

1 Children, listen to me for I am your father: do what I tell you, and so be safe;

2 for the Lord honours the father above his children and upholds the rights of a mother over her sons.

3 Whoever respects a father expiates sins,

4 whoever honours a mother is like someone amassing a fortune.

5 Whoever respects a father will in turn be happy with children, the day he prays for help, he will be heard.

6 Long life comes to anyone who honours a father, whoever obeys the Lord makes a mother happy.

7 Such a one serves parents as well as the Lord.

8 Respect your father in deed as well as word, so that blessing may come on you from him;

9 since a father's blessing makes his children's house firm, while a mother's curse tears up its foundations.

10 Do not make a boast of disgrace overtaking your father, your father's disgrace reflects no honour on you;

11 for a person's own honour derives from the respect shown to his father, and a mother held in dishonour is a reproach to her children.

12 My child, support your father in his old age, do not grieve him during his life.

13 Even if his mind should fail, show him sympathy, do not despise him in your health and strength;

14 for kindness to a father will not be forgotten but will serve as reparation for your sins.

15 On your own day of ordeal God will remember you: like frost in sunshine, your sins will melt away.

16 Whoever deserts a father is no better than a blasphemer, and whoever distresses a mother is accursed of the Lord.

17 My child, be gentle in carrying out your business, and you will be better loved than a lavish giver.

18 The greater you are, the more humbly you should behave, and then you will find favour with the Lord;

19

20 for great though the power of the Lord is, he accepts the homage of the humble.

21 Do not try to understand things that are too difficult for you, or try to discover what is beyond your powers.

22 Concentrate on what has been assigned you, you have no need to worry over mysteries.

23 Do not meddle with matters that are beyond you; what you have been taught already exceeds the scope of the human mind.

24 For many have been misled by their own notions, wicked presumption having warped their judgement.

25

26 A stubborn heart will come to a bad end, and whoever dallies with danger will perish in it.

27 A stubborn heart is weighed down with troubles, the sinner heaps sin on sin.

28 For the disease of the proud there is no cure, since an evil growth has taken root there.

29 The heart of the sensible will reflect on parables, an attentive ear is the sage's dream.

30 Water puts out a blazing fire, almsgiving expiates sins.

31 Whoever gives favours in return is mindful of the future; at the moment of falling, such a person will find support.

Book of Ecclesiasticus / Sirach Chapters

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Deacon Keith Fournier Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you. Help Now >

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