30
1 He who loves his son will continue to lay stripes upon him,
that he may have joy from him in the end.
2 He who chastises his son will have profit from him,
and will brag about him amongst his acquaintances.
3 He who teaches his son will provoke his enemy to jealousy.
Before friends, he will rejoice in him.
4 His father dies, and is as though he had not died;
for he has left one behind him like himself.
5 In his life, he saw his son and rejoiced.
When he died, it was without regret.
6 He left behind him an avenger against his enemies,
and one to repay kindness to his friends.
7 He who makes too much of his son will bind up his wounds.
His heart will be troubled at every cry.
8 An unbroken horse becomes stubborn.
An unrestrained son becomes headstrong.
9 Pamper your child, and he will make you afraid.
Play with him, and he will grieve you.
10 Don’t laugh with him, lest you have sorrow with him,
and you gnash your teeth in the end.
11 Give him no liberty in his youth,
and don’t ignore his follies.† This line and the previous two lines are absent from some older MSS.
12 ‡ These three lines are absent from the oldest MSS.Bow down his neck in his youth,
and beat him on the sides while he is a child,
lest he become stubborn, and be disobedient to you,
and there be sorrow to your soul.§ These three lines are absent from the oldest MSS.
13 Chastise your son, and give him work,
lest his shameless behaviour be an offence to you.
14 Better is a poor man who is healthy and fit,
than a rich man who is afflicted in his body.
15 Health and fitness are better than all gold,
and a strong body better than wealth without measure.
16 There is no wealth better than health of body.
There is no gladness above the joy of the heart.
17 Death is better than a bitter life,
and eternal rest than a continual sickness.
18 Good things poured out upon a mouth that is closed
are like food offerings laid upon a grave.
19 What does an offering profit an idol?
For it can’t eat or smell.
So is he who is punished by the Lord,
20 seeing with his eyes and groaning,
like a eunuch embracing a virgin and groaning.
21 Don’t give your soul to sorrow.
Don’t afflict yourself deliberately.
22 Gladness of heart is the life of a man.
Cheerfulness of a man lengthens his days.
23 Love your own soul, and comfort your heart.
Remove sorrow far from you,
for sorrow has destroyed many,
and there is no profit in it.
24 Envy and wrath shorten life.
Anxiety brings old age before its time.
25 Those who are cheerful and merry
will benefit from their food.