30
1 He that loveth his son will continue to lay stripes upon him,
That he may have joy of him in the end.
2 He that chastiseth his son shall have profit of him,
And shall glory of him among his acquaintance.
3 He that teacheth his son shall provoke his enemy to jealousy;
And before friends he shall rejoice of him.
4 His father dieth, and is as though he had not died;
For he hath left one behind him like himself.
5 In his life, he saw and rejoiced in him;
And when he died, he sorrowed not:
6 He left behind him an avenger against his enemies,
And one to requite kindness to his friends.
7 He that maketh too much of his son shall bind up his wounds;
And his heart will be troubled at every cry.
8 An unbroken horse becometh stubborn;
And a son left at large becometh headstrong.
9 Cocker thy child, and he shall make thee afraid:
Play with him, and he will grieve thee.
10 Laugh not with him, lest thou have sorrow with him;
And thou shalt gnash thy teeth in the end.
11 Give him no liberty in his youth,
* And wink not at his follies.
12 † Bow down his neck in his youth,
And beat him on the sides while he is a child,
Lest he wax stubborn, and be disobedient unto thee;
‡ And there shall be sorrow to thy soul.
13 Chastise thy son, and take pains with him,
Lest his shameless behaviour be an offence unto thee.
14 Better is a poor man, being sound and strong of constitution,
Than a rich man that is plagued in his body.
15 Health and a good constitution are better than all gold;
And a strong body than wealth without measure.
16 There is no riches better than health of body;
And 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 as messes of meat laid upon a grave.
19 What doth an offering profit an idol?
For neither shall it eat nor smell:
So is he that is afflicted of the Lord,
20 Seeing with his eyes and groaning,
As an eunuch embracing a virgin and groaning.
21 Give not over thy soul to sorrow;
And afflict not thyself in thine own counsel.
22 Gladness of heart is the life of a man;
And the joyfulness of a man is length of days.
23 Love thine own soul, and comfort thy heart:
And remove sorrow far from thee;
For sorrow hath destroyed many,
And there is no profit therein.
24 Envy and wrath shorten a man’s days;
And care bringeth old age before the time.
25 A cheerful and good heart
Will have a care of his meat and diet.
* 30:11 These three lines are absent from the oldest MSS. † 30:12 These three lines are absent from the oldest MSS. ‡ 30:12 These three lines are absent from the oldest MSS. § 30:17 The oldest MSS. omit And eternal rest. ** 30:17 Gr. age-long rest.