Wisdom of Sirach 3

Σοφία Σειράχ

1 ΕΜΟΥ τοῦ πατρὸς ἀκούσατε, τέκνα, καὶ οὕτως ποιήσατε, ἵνα σωθῆτε·

Hear me your father, O children, and do thereafter, that you⌃ may be safe.

2 ὁ γὰρ Κύριος ἐδόξασε πατέρα ἐπὶ τέκνοις καὶ κρίσιν μητρὸς ἐστερέωσεν ἐφ᾿ υἱοῖς.

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

3 ὁ τιμῶν πατέρα ἐξιλάσεται ἁμαρτίας,

Whoso honours his father makes an atonement for his sins:

4 καὶ ὡς ὁ ἀποθησαυρίζων, ὁ δοξάζων μητέρα αὐτοῦ.

And he that honours his mother is as one that lays up treasure.

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

Whoso honours his father shall have joy of his own children; and when he makes his prayer, he shall be heard.

6 ὁ δοξάζων πατέρα μακροημερεύσει, καὶ ὁ εἰσακούων Κυρίου ἀναπαύσει μητέρα αὐτοῦ·

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

7 καὶ ὡς δεσπόταις δουλεύσει ἐν τοῖς γεννήσασιν αὐτόν.

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

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

Honour your father and mother both in word and deed, that a blessing may come upon you from them.

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

For the blessing of the father establishes the houses of children; but the curse of the mother roots out foundations.

10 μὴ δοξάζου ἐν ἀτιμίᾳ πατρός σου, οὐ γάρ ἐστί σοι δόξα πατρὸς ἀτιμία·

Glory not in the dishonour of your father; for your father's dishonour is no glory to you.

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

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

My son, help your father in his age, and grieve him not as long as he lives.

13 κἂν ἀπολείπῃ σύνεσιν, συγγνώμην ἔχε καὶ μὴ ἀτιμάσῃς αὐτὸν ἐν πάσῃ ἰσχύϊ σου.

And if his understanding fail, have patience with him; and despise him not when you are in your full strength.

14 ἐλεημοσύνη γὰρ πατρὸς οὐκ ἐπιλησθήσεται, καὶ ἀντὶ ἁμαρτιῶν προσαν οικοδομηθήσεταί σοι.

For the relieving of your father shall not be forgotten: and instead of sins it shall be added to build you up.

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

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

16 ὡς βλάσφημος ὁ ἐγκαταλιπὼν πατέρα, καὶ κεκατηραμένος ὑπὸ Κυρίου ὁ παροργίζων μητέρα αὐτοῦ.

He that forsakes his father is as a blasphemer; and he that angers his mother is cursed: of God.

17 τέκνον, ἐν πραυ±τητι τὰ ἔργα σου διέξαγε, καὶ ὑπὸ ἀνθρώπου δεκτοῦ ἀγαπηθήσῃ.

My son, go on with your business in meekness; so shall you be beloved of him that is approved.

18 ὅσῳ μέγας εἶ, τοσούτῳ ταπεινοῦ σεαυτόν, καὶ ἔναντι Κυρίου εὑρήσεις χάριν·

The greater you are, the more humble yourself, and you shall find favour before the Lord.

Many are in high place, and of renown: but mysteries are revealed to the meek. (Brenton's 3:19, which the Greek of this edition does not have)

20 ὅτι μεγάλη ἡ δυναστεία τοῦ Κυρίου καὶ ὑπὸ τῶν ταπεινῶν δοξάζεται.

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

21 χαλεπώτερά σου μὴ ζήτει καὶ ἰσχυρότερά σου μὴ ἐξέταζε·

Seek not out things that are too hard for you, neither search the things that are above your strength.

22 ἃ προσετάγη σοι, ταῦτα διανοοῦ, οὐ γάρ ἐστί σοι χρεία τῶν κρυπτῶν.

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

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

Be not curious in unnecessary matters: for more things are showed to you than men understand.

24 πολλοὺς γὰρ ἐπλάνησεν ἡ ὑπόληψις αὐτῶν, καὶ ὑπόνοια πονηρὰ ὠλίσθησε διανοίας αὐτῶν. [25 κόρας μὴ ἔχων ἀπορήσεις φωτός, γνώσεως δὲ ἄμοιρος ὢν μὴ ἐπαγγέλλου].

For many are deceived by their own vain opinion; and an evil suspicion has overthrown their judgement.

Without eyes you shall lack light: profess not the knowledge therefore that you have not. (Brenton's 3:25, which the Greek of this edition does not have)

26 καρδία σκληρὰ κακωθήσεται ἐπ᾿ ἐσχάτων, καὶ ὁ ἀγαπῶν κίνδυνον ἐν αὐτῷ ἐμπεσεῖται.

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

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

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

28 ἐπαγωγὴ ὑπερηφάνου οὐκ ἔστιν ἴασις, φυτὸν γὰρ πονηρίας ἐρρίζωκεν ἐν αὐτῷ.

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

29 καρδία συνετοῦ διανοηθήσεται παραβολήν, καὶ οὖς ἀκροατοῦ ἐπιθυμία σοφοῦ.

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

30 πῦρ φλογιζόμενον ἀποσβέσει ὕδωρ, καὶ ἐλεημοσύνη ἐξιλάσεται ἁμαρτίας.

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

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

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

Greek: the Septuagint as the Orthodox Media Network published it (Mount Athos); 2 Maccabees and the Prayer of Manasseh from Brenton's edition (1851). English: Brenton's translation (1851), its spelling updated by Michael Paul Johnson; public domain. About these texts.