Read & explore together
Honor and care for parents through old age
Sirach 3:1–16 is wisdom teaching spoken as a father’s instruction to children. It calls children to honour both father and mother, and it gives special attention to caring for parents when they grow old or become weaker.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
This passage from the Catholic additional book of Sirach is written as direct advice: “Hear me, your father, O my children”. It speaks about honouring parents in word, deed, and patient care. The sayings connect this honour with blessing, prayer, family stability, and a serious warning against dishonouring parents.
Sirach 3:1–16Main takeaway
This passage teaches that honouring parents includes respectful words, actions, and patient care in their old age.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A father’s call to listenThe passage begins with a father calling his children to hear and do what he says. The reason given is safety.
Explanation
The passage begins with a father calling his children to hear and do what he says. The reason given is safety. Then Sirach says the Lord honours the father and confirms the mother’s authority over her sons. This gives weight to both parents, not only one of them.
02Honour brings blessingSirach links honouring father and mother with strong outcomes: atonement for sins, treasure, joy in one’s own children, answered prayer, and length of days.
Explanation
Sirach links honouring father and mother with strong outcomes: atonement for sins, treasure, joy in one’s own children, answered prayer, and length of days. It also says listening to the Lord leads someone to bring rest to his mother and to serve under parents as masters. These sayings present honour as practical obedience.
03Honour in words and actionsThe instruction becomes very concrete: honour your father in deed and word. A father’s blessing is pictured as establishing the houses of children, while a mother’s curse is pictured as tearing foundations out.
Explanation
The instruction becomes very concrete: honour your father in deed and word. A father’s blessing is pictured as establishing the houses of children, while a mother’s curse is pictured as tearing foundations out. Sirach warns children not to treat a father’s dishonour as their own advantage, because that is no glory at all.
04Care through old ageThe passage ends by applying honour to ageing parents. A son is told to help his father in old age, not grieve him, and show patience if his understanding fails.
Explanation
The passage ends by applying honour to ageing parents. A son is told to help his father in old age, not grieve him, and show patience if his understanding fails. Kindness to a father is said to be remembered and to build a person up. Forsaking or provoking parents is strongly condemned.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01According to this passage, what are some ways honouring parents is shown?
Look for actions and words named directly, especially serving, helping, not grieving, patience, and honouring in deed and word.
02How does Sirach speak about the results of honouring parents?
List the outcomes the passage connects with honour, such as joy, prayer being heard, length of days, blessing, and being built up.
03What special instruction is given for a father in old age or failing understanding?
Notice the commands about helping, not grieving, and showing patience when strength and weakness are different.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Sirach 3:1–16
1Hear me, your father, O my children, and do what you hear, that you all may be safe.
2For the Lord honors the father over the children, and has confirmed the judgment of the mother over her sons.
3He who honors his father will make atonement for sins.
4He who gives glory to his mother is as one who lays up treasure.
5Whoever honors his father will have joy in his own children. He will be heard in the day of his prayer.
6He who gives glory to his father will have length of days. He who listens to the Lord will bring rest to his mother,
7and will serve under his parents, as to masters.
8Honor your father in deed and word, that a blessing may come upon you from him.
9For the blessing of the father establishes the houses of children, but the curse of the mother roots out the foundations.
10Don’t glorify yourself in the dishonor of your father, for your father’s dishonor is no glory to you.
11For the glory of a man is from the honor of his father, and a mother in dishonor is a reproach to her children.
12My son, help your father in his old age, and don’t grieve him as long as he lives.
13If he fails in understanding, have patience with him. Don’t dishonor him in your full strength.
14For the kindness to your father will not be forgotten. Instead of sins it will be added to build you up.
15In the day of your affliction it will be remembered for you, as fair weather upon ice, so your sins will also melt away.
16He who forsakes his father is as a blasphemer. He who provokes his mother is cursed by the Lord.