Concerning children

¹The person who loves his sons

will discipline them often

so that he may be glad

about how they turn out.

²Whoever instructs his sons

will benefit from them,

and he will boast about them

among his acquaintances.

³The person who teaches his sons

will make his enemy jealous,

but among his friends

he will rejoice over them.

⁴When their father passes away,

it is as if he hadn’t died,

because he left behind sons

who are like him.

⁵When he was alive,

he saw them and was glad,

and at his end, he wasn’t grieved.

⁶He was survived by those

who would avenge him

against his enemies

and who would repay kindness

to his friends.

⁷A parent who spoils children now

will end up tending to their wounds,

and will experience heartache

at every outcry.

⁸A horse that is unbroken

turns out stubborn,

and a child, when given free rein,

turns out reckless.

⁹Indulge children,

and they will terrorize you;

play with them,

and they will grieve you.

¹⁰Don’t laugh together with them,

so that you don’t suffer together

¹¹Don’t give them free rein in their youth.[#30.11 LXX adds 30:11b-12a and don’t overlook his mistakes. In his youth, bow down his neck.]

¹²Bruise their sides

while they are still young,

or else they will become stubborn

and disobey you.

¹³Educate your children, and work on them,

so that you don’t end up offended

by their shameful behavior.

Food and health

¹⁴It is better to be poor,

but healthy and strong,

than a rich person

whose body is afflicted.

¹⁵Being healthy and fit

is better than any gold,

and a strong spirit

is better than untold riches.

¹⁶No wealth is better than a healthy body,

and no gladness is better than happiness in one’s heart.

¹⁷Death is better than a bitter life,

and eternal rest is

better than chronic illness.

Concerning foods.

¹⁸Good things that are poured out

on a closed mouth

are the same as food offerings

placed on a grave.

¹⁹Of what use is an offering of fruit

to an idol?

It can’t eat or smell.

The person whom the Lord punishes

is like this,

²⁰looking with the eyes and groaning

like a eunuch who embraces

a young woman and groans.

²¹Don’t let grief take you over,

and don’t distress yourself on purpose.

²²A joyful heart means life

for a human being,

and a person’s rejoicing

provides long life.

²³Distract yourself, cheer yourself up,

and keep grief far away from you

²⁴Jealousy and anger

shorten a person’s life,

and anxiety brings old age

before its time.

²⁵Those who are cheerful

and contented at meals

will attend well to their food.