The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus 30

1He that loves his son will continue to lay stripes upon him, 2He that chastises his son shall have profit of him, 3He that teaches his son shall provoke his enemy to jealousy; 4His father dieth, and is as though he had not died; 5In his life, he saw and rejoiced in him; 6He left behind him an avenger against his enemies, 7He that makes too much of his son shall bind up his wounds; 8An unbroken horse becomes stubborn; 9Cocker your child, and he shall make you afraid: 10Laugh not with him, lest you have sorrow with him; 11Give him no liberty in his youth, And wink not at his follies. These three lines are absent from the oldest MSS. 12Bow down his neck in his youth, These three lines are absent from the oldest MSS. And there shall be sorrow to your soul. These three lines are absent from the oldest MSS. 13Chastise your son, and take pains with him, 14Better is a poor man, being sound and strong of constitution, 15Health and a good constitution are better than all gold; 16There is no riches better than health of body; 17Death is better than a bitter life, And The oldest MSS. omit And eternal rest. eternal rest than a continual sickness. Gr. age-long rest. 18Good things poured out upon a mouth that is closed as messes of meat laid upon a grave. 19What does an offering profit an idol? 20Seeing with his eyes and groaning, 21Give not over your soul to sorrow; 22Gladness of heart is the life of a man; 23Love your own soul, and comfort your heart: 24Envy and wrath shorten a man’s days; 25A cheerful and good heart