The Holy Bible
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Sirach 3 : 1 - 34
Chapter 3
1 | The sons of wisdom are the church of the just: and their generation, obedience and love.
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2 | Children, hear the judgment of your father, and so do that you may be saved.
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3 | For God hath made the father honourable to the children: and seeking the judgment of the mothers, hath confirmed it upon the children.
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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.
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5 | And he that honoureth his mother is as one that layeth up a treasure.
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6 | He that honoureth his father shall have joy in his own children, and in the day of his prayer he shall be heard.
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7 | He that honoureth his father shall enjoy a long life: and he that obeyeth the father, shall be a comfort to his mother.
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8 | He that feareth the Lord, honoureth his parents, and will serve them as his masters that brought him into the world.
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9 | Honour thy father, in work and word, and all patience,
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10 | That a blessing may come upon thee from him, and his blessing may remain in the latter end.
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11 | The father's blessing establisheth the houses of the children: but the mother's curse rooteth up the foundation.
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12 | Glory not in the dishonour of thy father: for his shame is no glory to thee.
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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.
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14 | Son, support the old age of thy father, and grieve him not in his life;
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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.
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16 | For good shall be repaid to thee for the sin of thy mother.
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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.
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18 | Of what an evil fame is he that forsaketh his father: and he is cursed of God that angereth his mother.
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19 | My son, do thy works in meekness, and thou shalt be beloved above the glory of men.
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20 | The greater thou art, the more humble thyself in all things, and thou shalt find grace before God:
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21 | For great is the power of God alone, and he is honoured by the humble.
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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.
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23 | For it is not necessary for thee to see with thy eyes those things that are hid.
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24 | In unnecessary matters be not over curious, and in many of his works thou shalt not be inquisitive.
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25 | For many things are shewn to thee above the understanding of men.
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26 | And the suspicion of them hath deceived many, and hath detained their minds in vanity.
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27 | A hard heart shall fear evil at the last: and he that loveth danger shall perish in it.
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28 | A heart that goeth two ways shall not have success, and the perverse of heart shall be scandalized therein.
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29 | A wicked heart shall be laden with sorrows, and the sinner will add sin to sin.
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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.
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31 | The heart of the wise is understood in wisdom, and a good ear will hear wisdom with all desire.
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32 | A wise heart, and which hath under- standing, will abstain from sine, and in the works of justice shall have success.
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33 | Water quencheth a flaming fire, and alms resisteth sins:
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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.
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