Sirach 30

¹He who loves his son will frequently chastise him, so that he may be happy in the very end, and not grope for the doors of his neighbors.

²He who instructs his son will be praised over him and will glory in him, in the midst of his household.

³He who teaches his son will make his enemy jealous, and in the midst of his friends, he will glory in him.

⁴When his father has died, it will be as if he were not dead. For he will have left behind someone who is like himself.

⁵In his life, he saw him and rejoiced in him. And at his passing, he was not sorrowful, nor was he confounded in the sight of his enemies.

⁶For he left behind himself a defender of his house against his enemies, and someone who will repay his friends with kindness.

⁷For the sake of the souls of his sons, he will bind up his wounds, and at every voice, his gut will be stirred up.

⁸An untamed horse becomes stubborn, and a child left to himself becomes headstrong.

⁹Coddle a son, and he will make you afraid. Play with him, and he will make you sorrowful.

¹⁰You should not laugh with him; otherwise you may have grief, and in the end, your teeth will be clenched.

¹¹You should not give him power in his youth, but you should not despise his thoughts.

¹²Bow down his neck in his youth, and slap his sides while he is a child, lest perhaps he may become stubborn, and then he will not trust you, and so he will bring sorrow to your soul.

¹³Instruct your son, and work with him, lest you give offense by his shameful behavior.

¹⁴Better is a healthy pauper with a strong constitution, than a wealthy man who is weak and afflicted by maladies.

¹⁵A healthy soul with the sanctity of justice is better than all the gold and silver. And a sound body is better than immense revenues.

¹⁶There is no revenue above the revenue of a healthy body. And there is no delight above a joyful heart.

¹⁷Death is better than a bitter life. And eternal rest is better than continual sickness.

¹⁸Good things hidden in a closed mouth are like seats at a feast placed around a grave.

¹⁹What benefit is there in an offering to an idol? For it can neither eat, nor smell.

²⁰So is he who flees from the Lord, carrying the wages of his iniquity.

²¹He sees with his eyes and groans, like a eunuch who embraces a virgin and sighs.

²²You should not give your soul to sadness, and you should not afflict yourself by your own counsel.

²³The gladness of the heart is the life of a man, and it is a treasure of sanctity without defect. And the exultation of a man is length of life.

²⁴Take pity on your own soul by pleasing God, and show self-restraint. Gather your heart into his sanctity, and drive sadness far away from yourself.

²⁵For sadness has killed many, and there is no usefulness in it.

²⁶Envy and anger will diminish your days, and pensiveness will bring old age before its time.

²⁷A cheerful and good heart is like a feast. And its feasts are formed by diligence.

Sirach 30

¹He that loveth his son, frequently chastiseth him, that he may rejoice in his latter end, and not grope after the doors of his neighbours.

²He that instructeth his son shall be praised in him, and shall glory in him in the midst of them of his household.

³He that teacheth his son, maketh his enemy jealous, and in the midst of his friends he shall glory in him.

⁴His father is dead, and he is as if he were not dead: for he hath left one behind him that is like himself.

⁵While he lived he saw and rejoiced in him: and when he died he was not sorrowful, neither was he confounded before his enemies.

⁶For he left behind him a defender of his house against his enemies, and one that will requite kindness to his friends.

⁷For the souls of his sons he shall bind up his wounds, and at every cry his bowels shall be troubled.

⁸A horse not broken becometh stubborn, and a child left to himself will become headstrong.

⁹Give thy son his way, and he shall make thee afraid: play with him, and he shall make thee sorrowful.

¹⁰Laugh not with him, lest thou have sorrow, and at the last thy teeth be set on edge.

¹¹Give him not liberty in his youth, and wink not at his devices.

¹²Bow down his neck while he is young, and beat his sides while he is a child, lest he grow stubborn, and regard thee not, and so be a sorrow of heart to thee.

¹³Instruct thy son, and labour about him, lest his lewd behaviour be an offence to thee.

¹⁴Better is a poor man who is sound, and strong of constitution, than a rich man who is weak and afflicted with evils.

¹⁵Health of the soul in holiness of justice, is better than all gold and silver: and a sound body, than immense revenues.

¹⁶There is no riches above the riches of the health of the body: and there is no pleasure above the joy of the heart.

¹⁷Better is death than a bitter life, and everlasting rest, than continual sickness.

¹⁸Good things that are hidden in a mouth that is shut, are as messes of meat set about a grave.

¹⁹What good shall an offering do to an idol? for it can neither eat, nor smell:

²⁰So is he that is persecuted by the Lord, bearing the reward of his iniquity:

²¹He seeth with his eyes, and groaneth, as an eunuch embracing a virgin, and sighing.

²²Give not up thy soul to sadness, and afflict not thyself in thy own counsel.

²³The joyfulness of the heart, is the life of a man, and a never failing treasure of holiness: and the joy of a man is length of life.

²⁴Have pity on thy own soul, pleasing God, and contain thyself: gather up thy heart in his holiness: and drive away sadness far from thee.

²⁵For sadness hath killed many, and there is no profit in it.

²⁶Envy and anger shorten a man's days, and pensiveness will bring old age before the time.

²⁷A cheerful and good heart is always feasting: for his banquets are prepared with diligence.