Chapter 3

¹The sons of wisdom are the church of the just: and their generation, obedience and love. ²Children, hear the judgment of your father, and so do that you may be saved. ³For God hath made the father honourable to the children: and seeking the judgment of the mothers, hath confirmed it upon the children. ⁴He 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. ⁵And he that honoureth his mother is as one that layeth up a treasure. ⁶He that honoureth his father shall have joy in his own children, and in the day of his prayer he shall be heard. ⁷He that honoureth his father shall enjoy a long life: and he that obeyeth the father, shall be a comfort to his mother. ⁸He that feareth the Lord, honoureth his parents, and will serve them as his masters that brought him into the world. ⁹Honour thy father, in work and word, and all patience, ¹⁰That a blessing may come upon thee from him, and his blessing may remain in the latter end. ¹¹The father's blessing establisheth the houses of the children: but the mother's curse rooteth up the foundation. ¹²Glory not in the dishonour of thy father: for his shame is no glory to thee. ¹³For the glory of a man is from the honour of his father, and a father without honour is the disgrace of the son. ¹⁴Son, support the old age of thy father, and grieve him not in his life; ¹⁵And 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 forgotten. ¹⁶For good shall be repaid to thee for the sin of thy mother. ¹⁷And 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. ¹⁸Of what an evil fame is he that forsaketh his father: and he is cursed of God that angereth his mother. ¹⁹My son, do thy works in meekness, and thou shalt be beloved above the glory of men. ²⁰The greater thou art, the more humble thyself in all things, and thou shalt find grace before God: ²¹For great is the power of God alone, and he is honoured by the humble. ²²Seek 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. ²³For it is not necessary for thee to see with thy eyes those things that are hid. ²⁴In unnecessary matters be not over curious, and in many of his works thou shalt not be inquisitive. ²⁵For many things are shewn to thee above the understanding of men. ²⁶And the suspicion of them hath deceived many, and hath detained their minds in vanity. ²⁷A hard heart shall fear evil at the last: and he that loveth danger shall perish in it. ²⁸A heart that goeth two ways shall not have success, and the perverse of heart shall be scandalized therein. ²⁹A wicked heart shall be laden with sorrows, and the sinner will add sin to sin. ³⁰The congregation of the proud shall not be healed: for the plant of wickedness shall take root in them, and it shall not be perceived. ³¹The heart of the wise is understood in wisdom, and a good ear will hear wisdom with all desire. ³²A wise heart, and which hath understanding, will abstain from sine, and in the works of justice shall have success. ³³Water quencheth a flaming fire, and alms resisteth sins: ³⁴And God provideth for him that sheweth favour: he remembereth him afterwards, and in the time of his fall he shall find a sure stay.