Sirach · Brenton's English Septuagint
Sirach 3 Brenton's English Septuagint
Notes on this text (2)
- Square brackets mark words Brenton supplied for English sense.
- Old Testament only (no New Testament). First printed 1844; the 1851 edition added the deuterocanonical books.
Sirach is not in RV1909.
1 Hear me your father, O children, and do thereafter, that ye may be safe.
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2 For the Lord hath given the father honour over the children, and hath confirmed the authority of the mother over the sons.
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3 Whoso honoureth his father maketh an atonement for his sins:
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4 and he that honoureth his mother is as one that layeth up treasure.
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5 Whoso honoureth his father shall have joy of [his own] children; and when he maketh his prayer, he shall be heard.
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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,
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7 and will do service unto his parents, as to his masters.
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8 Honour thy father and mother both in word and deed, that a blessing may come upon thee from them.
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9 For the blessing of the father establisheth the houses of children; but the curse of the mother rooteth out foundations.
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10 Glory not in the dishonour of thy father; for thy father's dishonour is no glory unto thee.
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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.
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12 My son, help thy father in his age, and grieve him not as long as he liveth.
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13 And if his understanding fail, have patience with him; and despise him not when thou art in thy full strength.
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14 For the relieving of thy father shall not be forgotten: and instead of sins it shall be added to build thee up.
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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.
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16 He that forsaketh his father is as a blasphemer; and he that angereth his mother is cursed of God.
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17 My son, go on with thy business in meekness; so shalt thou be beloved of him that is approved.
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18 The greater thou art, the more humble thyself, and thou shalt find favour before the Lord.
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20 For the power of the Lord is great, and he is honoured of the lowly.
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21 Seek not out the things that are too hard for thee, neither search the things that are above thy strength.
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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.
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23 Be not curious in unnecessary matters; for more things are shewed unto thee than men understand.
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24 For many are deceived by their own vain opinion; and an evil suspicion hath overthrown their judgment.
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26 A stubborn heart shall fare evil at the last; and he that loveth danger shall perish therein.
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27 An obstinate heart shall be laden with sorrows; and the wicked man shall heap sin upon sin.
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28 In the punishment of the proud there is no remedy; for the plant of wickedness hath taken root in him.
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29 The heart of the prudent will understand a parable; and an attentive ear is the desire of a wise man.
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30 Water will quench a flaming fire; and alms maketh an atonement for sins.
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31 And he that requiteth good turns is mindful of that which may come hereafter; and when he falleth, he shall find a stay.
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What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
For Thou hast commanded, saying, Go on with thy business in meekness, and thou shalt be beloved by all men; and good cattle, which neither if they eat, shall they over-abound, nor if they do not eat, have they any want; and good serpents, not destructive to do hurt, but "wise" to take heed; and exploring only so much of …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
Seek not the things that are too deep for thee, neither search out the things that are above thy strength: what is commanded thee, think thereupon.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
It is written, "As water quencheth fire, so alms quencheth sin." Again it is written, "Shut up alms in the heart of a poor man, and it shall make supplication for thee before the Lord." Again it is written, "Hear, O king, my counsel, and redeem thy sins by alms." And many other testimonies of the Divine oracles are there, …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
… abundance of graces is to be feared, that no man may pride himself in the gift of God, but may rather preserve humility, and may do what is written: "The greater thou art, the more humble thyself, and thou shalt find favour before the Lord:" how deeply pride in God's gift should be feared, we must again and again impress …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)