Chapter 30

¹He who loves his son will continue to lay stripes upon him, that he may have joy from him in the end.

²He who chastises his son will have profit from him, and will brag about him among his acquaintances.

³He who teaches his son will provoke his enemy to jealousy. Before friends, he will rejoice in him.

Sirach 30:1–3 · WEBC

⁴His father dies, and is as though he had not died; for he has left one behind him like himself.

⁵In his life, he saw his son and rejoiced. When he died, it was without regret.

⁶He left behind him an avenger against his enemies, and one to repay kindness to his friends.

Sirach 30:4–6 · WEBC

⁷He who makes too much of his son will bind up his wounds. His heart will be troubled at every cry.

⁸An unbroken horse becomes stubborn. An unrestrained son becomes headstrong.

⁹Pamper your child, and he will make you afraid. Play with him, and he will grieve you.

Sirach 30:7–9 · WEBC

¹⁰Don’t laugh with him, lest you have sorrow with him, and you gnash your teeth in the end.

¹¹Give him no liberty in his youth, and don’t ignore his follies.

¹²Bow 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.

Sirach 30:10–12 · WEBC

¹³Chastise your son, and give him work, lest his shameless behavior be an offense to you.

¹⁴Better is a poor man who is healthy and fit, than a rich man who is afflicted in his body.

¹⁵Health and fitness are better than all gold, and a strong body better than wealth without measure.

Sirach 30:13–15 · WEBC

¹⁶There is no wealth better than health of body. There is no gladness above the joy of the heart.

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

¹⁸Good things poured out upon a mouth that is closed are like food offerings laid upon a grave.

Sirach 30:16–18 · WEBC

¹⁹What does an offering profit an idol? For it can’t eat or smell. So is he who is punished by the Lord,

²⁰seeing with his eyes and groaning, like a eunuch embracing a virgin and groaning.

²¹Don’t give your soul to sorrow. Don’t afflict yourself deliberately.

Sirach 30:19–21 · WEBC

²²Gladness of heart is the life of a man. Cheerfulness of a man lengthens his days.

²³Love your own soul, and comfort your heart. Remove sorrow far from you, for sorrow has destroyed many, and there is no profit in it.

²⁴Envy and wrath shorten life. Anxiety brings old age before its time.

Sirach 30:22–24 · WEBC

²⁵Those who are cheerful and merry will benefit from their food.

Sirach 30:25 · WEBC