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