MinisterHumble service

Sirach — Chapter 3 — Hebrew–Greek comparison

Parents, Humility, and Mercy

Saints Translation · V2 · Hebrew–Greek working comparison

Sirach 3 · 29 source units
Hebrew–English · Literal-Smooth	Greek–English · Literal-Smooth	Classification & Notes
No Hebrew text is available in the selected manuscript coverage for this unit. This is a source gap, not a classified omission.	3:1 Listen to me, your father, children, and act accordingly, so that you may be saved.	Not classified. No paired Hebrew reading is supplied. Inherited Greek note 3:1 The teacher speaks as father; the title is not silently replaced by a divine speaker.
No Hebrew text is available in the selected manuscript coverage for this unit. This is a source gap, not a classified omission.	3:2 For the Lord has honored a father over his children and confirmed a mother’s authority over her sons.	Not classified. No paired Hebrew reading is supplied. Inherited Greek note 3:2 Authority renders κρίσις, judgment or rightful decision.
No Hebrew text is available in the selected manuscript coverage for this unit. This is a source gap, not a classified omission.	3:3 The one who honors a father atones for sins,	Not classified. No paired Hebrew reading is supplied. Inherited Greek note 3:3 The verb ἐξιλάσκεται is retained without weakening its stated effect.
No Hebrew text is available in the selected manuscript coverage for this unit. This is a source gap, not a classified omission.	3:4 and the one who glorifies his mother is like someone storing up treasure.	Not classified. No paired Hebrew reading is supplied.
No Hebrew text is available in the selected manuscript coverage for this unit. This is a source gap, not a classified omission.	3:5 The one who honors a father will be gladdened by children, and on the day of his prayer he will be heard.	Not classified. No paired Hebrew reading is supplied.
Hebrew 3:6 · fragmentary […] honors his mother. Hebrew witness A · I recto מכבד אמו׃ Manuscript transcription	3:6 The one who glorifies a father will have length of days, and the one who obeys the Lord will give his mother rest;	Not classified · Hebrew 3:6 — Only מכבד אמו, “honors his mother,” survives here in A. The fragment is too short to classify the relationship of the full Hebrew verse to Greek; missing wording has not been reconstructed.
No Hebrew text is available in the selected manuscript coverage for this unit. This is a source gap, not a classified omission.	3:7 he will serve those who brought him into being as masters.	Not classified. No paired Hebrew reading is supplied. Inherited Greek note 3:7 The comparison to masters and the service language are explicit in the Greek.
Hebrew 3:8 · translated My son, honor your father in word and deed, so that all blessings may overtake you. Hebrew witness A · I recto בני במאמר ובמעשה כבד אביך עבור ישיגוך כל ברכות׃ Manuscript transcription	3:8 Honor your father in deed and word, so that a blessing may come upon you from him.	Similar · Hebrew 3:8 — Hebrew says all blessings; Greek specifies a blessing from the father.
Hebrew 3:9 · translated A father's blessing establishes a root, but a mother's curse uproots a planting. Hebrew witness A · I recto ברכת אב תיסד שרש וקללת אם תנתש נטע׃ Manuscript transcription	3:9 For a father’s blessing establishes the houses of children, but a mother’s curse uproots foundations.	Different · Hebrew 3:9 — Hebrew uses roots and planting; Greek houses and foundations.
Hebrew 3:10 · translated Do not gain honor through your father's disgrace, for that is no honor to you. Hebrew witness A · I recto אל תתכבד בקלון אביך כי לא כבוד הוא לך׃ Manuscript transcription	3:10 Do not glory in your father’s dishonor, for a father’s dishonor is no glory to you.	Same · Hebrew 3:10 — The principal sense corresponds to the inherited Greek-English rendering.
Hebrew 3:11 · translated A man's honor is his father's honor; one who curses his mother multiplies sin. Hebrew witness A · I recto כבוד איש כבוד אביו ומרבה חטא מקלל אמו׃ Manuscript transcription	3:11 For a person’s glory comes from his father’s honor, and a mother in disrepute is a reproach to her children.	Different · Hebrew 3:11 — The second clause concerns cursing one's mother rather than her disrepute.
Hebrew 3:12 · translated My son, be steadfast in honoring your father, and do not forsake him all the days of your life. Hebrew witness A · I recto בני התחזק בכבוד אביך ואל תעזבהו כל ימי חייך׃ Manuscript transcription	3:12 Child, support your father in old age, and do not grieve him during his life.	Different · Hebrew 3:12 — Hebrew emphasizes lifelong honor and not abandoning; Greek support in old age and not grieving.
Hebrew 3:13 · translated Even if his understanding fails, make allowance for him, and do not shame him all the days of his life. Hebrew witness A · I recto וגם אם יחסר מדעו עזוב לו ואל תכלים אותו כל ימי חייו׃ Manuscript transcription	3:13 Even if he loses understanding, be indulgent, and do not dishonor him in all your strength.	Similar · Hebrew 3:13 — Hebrew closes with his lifetime; Greek with the child's strength.
Hebrew 3:14 · translated Kindness toward a father will not be wiped away; in place of sin it will be planted. Hebrew witness A · I recto צדקת אב לא תמחה ותמור חטאת היא }}תנתע{{ <<תנטע>>׃ Manuscript transcription	3:14 For mercy toward a father will not be forgotten; in place of sins it will be built up for you.	Similar · Hebrew 3:14 — Hebrew planting corresponds to Greek building; manuscript correction is retained in transcription. Inherited Greek note 3:14 The building image in προσανοικοδομηθήσεται is retained. Mercy is an act toward the father, not the father’s own giving.
Hebrew 3:15 · translated In a day of distress it will be remembered for you, like heat upon frost, to put away your iniquities. Hebrew witness A · I recto ביום צרה תזכר לך כחם על כפור להשבית עוניך׃ Manuscript transcription	3:15 In the day of your affliction you will be remembered; as fair weather upon frost, so your sins will dissolve.	Similar · Hebrew 3:15 — The principal sense corresponds to the inherited Greek-English rendering.
Hebrew 3:16 · translated For one who despises his father acts presumptuously, and one who curses his mother provokes his Maker. Hebrew witness A · I recto כי מזיד בוזה אביו ומכעיס בוראו מקלל אמו׃ Manuscript transcription	3:16 The one who abandons a father is like a blasphemer, and the one who provokes his mother is cursed by the Lord.	Different · Hebrew 3:16 — Hebrew makes the child provoke the Maker; Greek has the Lord curse the child.
Hebrew 3:17 · translated My son, in your wealth walk humbly, and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts. Hebrew witness A · I recto בני בעשרך התהלך בענוה ותאהב מנותן מתנות׃ Manuscript transcription	3:17 Child, carry out your works with gentleness, and you will be loved by an acceptable person.	Different · Hebrew 3:17 — Hebrew wealth and comparison with a gift-giver differ from Greek works and an acceptable person. C I recto reads את כל מלאכתיך, “all your works,” closer to Greek than A’s wealth; https://bensira.org/transcriptions/C/C_I_Recto.pdf. Inherited Greek note 3:17 Acceptable person follows ἀνθρώπου δεκτοῦ; this is not replaced by a comparison with a gift-giver.
Hebrew 3:18 · translated Make yourself small before all worldly greatness, and before God you will find mercy. Hebrew witness A · I recto מעט נפשך מכל גדולת עולם ולפני ֵאל תמצא רחמים׃ Manuscript transcription	3:18 The greater you are, the more humble yourself, and you will find favor before the Lord,	Similar · Hebrew 3:18 — Greek uses increasing greatness and finding favor. C I recto reads “As great as you are, so humble yourself,” closer to Greek; https://bensira.org/transcriptions/C/C_I_Recto.pdf. Inherited Greek note 3:18 The edition’s next label is 20; label 19 is absent.
Hebrew 3:20 · translated For God's mercies are many, and to the humble He reveals His secret. Hebrew witness A · I recto כי רבים רחמי אלהים ולענוים }}יגלה{{ יגלה סודו׃ Manuscript transcription	3:20 because the Lord’s dominion is great, and He is glorified by the humble.	Different · Hebrew 3:20 — Hebrew revelation to the humble differs from Greek glorification through them.
Hebrew 3:21 · translated Do not seek wonders beyond you, and do not investigate what is concealed from you. Hebrew witness A · I recto פלאות ממך אל תדרוש ומכוסה ממך אל תחקור׃ Manuscript transcription	3:21 Do not seek things too difficult for you, and do not investigate things beyond your strength.	Similar · Hebrew 3:21 — The principal sense corresponds to the inherited Greek-English rendering.
Hebrew 3:22 · translated Consider what you have been permitted, and have no business with hidden things. Hebrew witness A · I recto במה שהורשית התבונן ואין לך עסק בנסתרות׃ Manuscript transcription	3:22 Consider the things commanded you, for you have no need of hidden things.	Similar · Hebrew 3:22 — Hebrew permitted differs from Greek commanded.
Hebrew 3:23 · translated Do not rebel concerning what is beyond you, for what exceeds you has been shown to you. Hebrew witness A · I recto וביותר ממך אל תמר כי רב ממך הראית׃ Manuscript transcription	3:23 Do not busy yourself with matters beyond your tasks, for more than human understanding has been shown to you.	Similar · Hebrew 3:23 — The Hebrew verb is difficult; rendering retains its ordinary sense of rebellion. Inherited Greek note 3:23 The final clause is retained as a statement about what has been shown, not changed to a command against all inquiry.
Hebrew 3:24 · translated For human thoughts are many, and evil imaginings lead astray. Hebrew witness A · I recto כי רבים עשתונֵי בני אדם ודמיונות רעות מתעות׃ Manuscript transcription	3:24 For their assumption has misled many, and an evil suspicion has caused their thoughts to slip.	Similar · Hebrew 3:24 — The principal sense corresponds to the inherited Greek-English rendering. Inherited Greek note 3:24 Both ὑπόλημψις and ὑπόνοια are represented. The next printed label is 26; label 25 is absent.
Hebrew 3:26 · translated A heavy heart will come to an evil end, but one who loves good things will walk in them. Hebrew witness A · I recto לב כבד תבאש אחריתו ואוהב טובות ינהג בהם׃ Manuscript transcription	3:26 A hard heart will suffer harm at the last, and the one who loves danger will perish in it.	Divergent · Hebrew 3:26 — A reads טובות, “good things,” followed by ינהג בהם, “will walk in them,” where Greek has loving danger and perishing in it. This reverses the moral object and outcome of the second clause. Divergent identifies that transmitted contrast; A is not silently emended to match Greek.
Hebrew 3:27 · translated A heavy heart will have many pains, and the reckless person adds iniquity to iniquity. Hebrew witness A · I recto לב כבד ירבו מכאביו ומתחולל מוסיף עון על עון׃ Manuscript transcription	3:27 A hard heart will be weighed down with troubles, and the sinner will add sin upon sins.	Similar · Hebrew 3:27 — The second Hebrew participle is uncertain; reckless is provisional.
Hebrew 3:28 · translated Do not hurry to heal a scoffer's wound, for it has no cure: it was planted from an evil planting. Hebrew witness A · I recto אל תרוץ לרפאות מכ}}ל{{<<ת>> לץ כי אין לה רפואה כי מנטע רע נטעו׃ Manuscript transcription	3:28 There is no healing for a proud person’s calamity, for a plant of wickedness has taken root in him.	Similar · Hebrew 3:28 — A addresses a scoffer and adds a direct prohibition.
Hebrew 3:29 · translated A wise heart understands the wise men's proverbs, and an ear attentive to wisdom rejoices. Hebrew witness A · I recto לב חכם יבין משלי חכמים ואזן מקשבת לחכמה תשמח׃ Manuscript transcription	3:29 An understanding heart will consider a proverb, and a listening ear is the desire of a wise person.	Similar · Hebrew 3:29 — The principal sense corresponds to the inherited Greek-English rendering.
Hebrew 3:30 · translated Water extinguishes a blazing fire; so righteousness atones for sin. Hebrew witness A · I recto אש לוהטת יכבו מים כן צדקה תכפר חטאת׃ Manuscript transcription	3:30 Water will extinguish a blazing fire, and almsgiving will atone for sins.	Similar · Hebrew 3:30 — Hebrew righteousness may include almsgiving; Greek explicitly names almsgiving. Inherited Greek note 3:30 The comparison and the explicit atonement verb are retained; almsgiving renders ἐλεημοσύνη in this setting. Verified reception: Cyprian, On Works and Alms 2, cites this fire-and-water comparison in teaching that works of mercy address sins committed after baptism. This reports his interpretation, read in Wallis’s English translation; it is not a claim of Latin or Greek textual collation. [CYP-ALMS-SIR]
Hebrew 3:31 · translated One who does good will meet it on his ways, and when he totters he will find support. Hebrew witness A · I recto פועל טוב יקראנו בדרכיו ובעת מו֯ טו ימצא משען׃ Manuscript transcription	3:31 The one who repays favors takes thought for what comes afterward, and at the time of his fall he will find support.	Similar · Hebrew 3:31 — The Hebrew object's reference is uncertain; it is rendered provisionally. Inherited Greek note 3:31 The subject is the person repaying favors; a divine subject is not inserted.
Hebrew 3:25 · translated Without the pupil there is no light, and without knowledge there is no wisdom. Hebrew witness A · I recto באין אישון יחסר אור ובאין דעת תחסר חכמה׃ Manuscript transcription	No aligned Greek unit is supplied here; see the alignment note.	Divergent · Hebrew 3:25 — This Hebrew-only saying compares the eye’s pupil and light with knowledge and wisdom. No corresponding row is printed in the inherited Greek main text; the classification marks an additional Hebrew saying, not a contradictory doctrine.

Source and numbering

Hebrew English is newly translated from the manuscript-specific transcriptions in The Book of Ben Sira portal. Each translated unit identifies its selected witness and folio. This is a selected-witness working edition, not an exhaustive collation of every manuscript or a reconstruction of lost Hebrew. Brackets and fragmentary status identify uncertainty; no Greek text has been back-translated to fill Hebrew gaps.

The Greek-source English and its notes are inherited from the existing Sirach edition. The comparison categories are provisional editorial assessments against that English; this update is not a fresh verification of every Greek reading or its apparatus.

Working translation preserved from the recovered manuscript of 8 September 2026. Declared source: Septuaginta, Rahlfs–Hanhart, 2006, Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, publisher’s Greek main text. Independent linguistic and critical-apparatus review remains outstanding. Source-access and reception claims in the inherited notes have not been freshly revalidated. Chapter and section headings are editorial.

The translator’s prologue is separate from the 51 chapters. Its eight source units map to publisher labels 1, 1a–1g; main-text 1:1 maps to 1h. Source 5:15 includes material often numbered 6:1, so chapter 6 begins at 6:2. Source label gaps are preserved; no text is invented.