Whoever honors his father will be gladdened by his own children: It is possible to understand this to mean that the person will be made glad by having children of his own, but much more likely it means his children will be a source of pride, satisfaction, and happiness. Good News Translation expresses this well: “If you respect your father, one day your own children will make you happy.” “One day” means “the time will come when.”

And when he prays he will be heard is literally “and on the day of his prayer he will be heard.” Good News Translation‘s translation, “the Lord will hear your prayers,” is a good model.

Honoring parents is a righteous act, and Pro 15.29 tell us that God hears the prayers of the righteous. So it is by honoring our parents that we find satisfaction within our own families (previous line) and earn favor with the Lord.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Sirach. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.