Liber Ecclesiasticus, 3

1. filii sapientiæ ecclesia justorum et natio illorum obaudientia et dilectio

1. The sons of wisdom are the church of the just: and their generation, obedience and love.

2. judicium patris audite filii dilecti et sic facite ut salvi sitis

2. Children, hear the judgment of your father, and so do that you may be saved.

3. Deus enim honoravit patrem in filiis et judicium matris exquirens in filios

3. For God hath made the father honourable to the children: and seeking the judgment of the mothers, hath confirmed it upon the children.

4. qui diligit Deum exorabit pro peccatis et continebit se ab illis in oratione dierum exaudietur

4. He that loveth God, shall obtain pardon for his sine by prayer, and shall refrain himself from them, and shall be heard in the prayer of days.

5. et sicut qui thesaurizat ita et qui honorificat matrem suam

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

6. qui honorat patrem jucundabitur in filiis

6. He that honoureth his father shall have joy in his own children, and in the day of his prayer he shall be heard.

7. qui honorat patrem suum vita vivet longiore et qui obaudit patrem refrigerabit matri

7. He that honoureth his father shall enjoy a long life: and he that obeyeth the father, shall be a comfort to his mother.

8. qui timet Deum honorat parentes et quasi dominis serviet in his qui se generaverunt

8. He that feareth the Lord, honoureth his parents, and will serve them as his masters that brought him into the world.

9. in opere et sermone et omni patientia honora patrem tuum

9. Honour thy father, in work and word, and all patience,

10. ut superveniat tibi benedictio a Deo et benedictio illius in novissimo manet

10. That a blessing may come upon thee from him, and his blessing may remain in the latter end.

11. benedictio patris firmat domos filiorum maledictio autem matris eradicat fundamenta

11. The father's blessing establisheth the houses of the children: but the mother's curse rooteth up the foundation.

12. ne glorieris in contumelia patris tui non est enim tibi gloria sed confusio

12. Glory not in the dishonour of thy father: for his shame is no glory to thee.

13. gloria enim hominis ex honore patris sui et dedecus filiis pater sine honore

13. For the glory of a man is from the honour of his father, and a father without honour is the disgrace of the son.

14. fili suscipe senectam patris tui et ne contristes eum in vita illius

14. Son, support the old age of thy father, and grieve him not in his life;

15. et si defecerit sensu veniam da et ne spernas eum in tua virtute elemosyna enim patris non erit in oblivione

15. And if his understanding fail, have patience with him, and despise him not when thou art in thy strength: for the relieving of the father shall not be for- gotten.

16. nam pro peccato matris restituetur tibi bonum

16. For good shall be repaid to thee for the sin of thy mother.

17. et iniustitia ædificabitur tibi in die tribulationis commemorabitur tui sicut in sereno glacies solventur tua peccata

17. And in justice thou shalt be built up, and in the day of affliction thou shalt be remembered: and thy sine shall melt away as the ice in the fair warm weather.

18. quam malæ famæ est qui relinquit patrem et est maledictus a Deo qui exasperat matrem

18. Of what an evil fame is he that forsaketh his father: and he is cursed of God that angereth his mother.

19. fili in mansuetudine opera tua perfice et super hominum gloriam diligeris

19. My son, do thy works in meekness, and thou shalt be beloved above the glory of men.

20. quanto magnus es humilia te in omnibus et coram Deo invenies gratiam

20. The greater thou art, the more humble thyself in all things, and thou shalt find grace before God:

21. quoniam magna potentia Dei solius et ab humilibus honoratur

21. For great is the power of God alone, and he is honoured by the humble.

22. altiora te ne scrutaveris et fortiora te ne exquisieris sed quæ præcepit tibi Deus illa cogita semper et in pluribus operibus ejus ne fueris curiosus

22. Seek not the things that are too high for thee, and search not into things above thy ability: but the things that God hath commanded thee, think on them always, and in many of his works be not curious.

23. non est enim tibi necessarium ea quæ abscondita sunt videre oculis tuis

23. For it is not necessary for thee to see with thy eyes those things that are hid.

24. in supervacuis rebus noli scrutari multipliciter et in pluribus operibus ejus non eris curiosus

24. In unnecessary matters be not over curious, and in many of his works thou shalt not be inquisitive.

25. plurima enim super sensum hominis ostensa sunt tibi

25. For many things are shewn to thee above the understanding of men.

26. multos enim inplanavit suspicio illorum et in vanitate detinuit sensus illorum

26. And the suspicion of them hath deceived many, and hath detained their minds in vanity.

27. cor durum male habebit in novissimo et qui amat periculum in illo peribit

27. A hard heart shall fear evil at the last: and he that loveth danger shall perish in it.

28. cor ingrediens duas vias non habebit successus et pravicordius in illis scandalizabitur

28. A heart that goeth two ways shall not have success, and the perverse of heart shall be scandalized therein.

29. cor nequam gravabitur doloribus et peccator adiciet ad peccandum

29. A wicked heart shall be laden with sorrows, and the sinner will add sin to sin.

30. synagogæ superborum non est sanitas frutex enim peccati eradicabitur in illis et non intellegetur

30. The congregation of the proud shall not be healed: for the plant of wickedness shall take root in them, and it shall not be perceived.

31. cor sapiens intellegitur in sapientia et auris bona audiet cum omni concupiscentia sapientiam

31. The heart of the wise is understood in wisdom, and a good ear will hear wisdom with all desire.

32. sapiens cor et intellegibile abstinebit se a peccatis et in operibus justitiæ successus habebit

32. A wise heart, and which hath under- standing, will abstain from sine, and in the works of justice shall have success.

33. ignem ardentem extinguit aqua et elemosyna resistit peccatis

33. Water quencheth a flaming fire, and alms resisteth sins:

34. et Deus conspector qui reddit gratiam meminit in posterum et in tempore casus tui invenies firmamentum

34. And God provideth for him that sheweth favour: he remembereth him afterwards, and in the time of his fall he shall find a sure stay.