Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 30
Bringing Up Children
1A father who loves his son will whip him often, so that he can be proud of him later. 2If a son is disciplined, he will be of some use, and his father can boast of him to his friends. 3Anyone who gives good guidance to his son can not only take pride in him among his friends, but he can make his enemies jealous. 4-5While the father is alive, the sight of his son makes him happy, and when he dies, he has no regrets. He is not really dead, because his son is like him. 6He has left someone to take vengeance on his enemies and to return the favours he owes his friends.
7But anyone who spoils his son will have to bandage his wounds. His heart will stop every time he hears a shout. 8An untamed horse is going to be stubborn, and an undisciplined son is no different. 9If you pamper your child and play with him, he will be a disappointment and a source of grief. 10Laugh with him now, and one day you will have to cry over him, grinding your teeth in regret. 11Don't give him freedom while he is young, and don't overlook what he does wrong. 12Beat him while he is still a child, and make him respect your authority. If you don't, he will be stubborn and disobedient and cause you nothing but sorrow. 13So discipline your son and give him work to do, or else he will be an embarrassment to you.
Health
14It is better to be poor, but strong and healthy, than to be rich, but in poor health. 15A sound, healthy body and a cheerful attitude are more valuable than gold and jewels. 16Nothing can make you richer or give you greater happiness than these two things. 17It would be better to be dead, asleep for ever, than to live in the misery of chronic illness. 18The finest food means nothing if you are too ill to eat it; it might as well be offered to an idol. 19But there is no point in offering food to an idol; it can't eat it or smell it. It is just the same with someone whom the Lord has afflicted. 20He looks at his food and sighs, like a castrated man hugging a young woman.
Cheerfulness and Sadness
21Don't deliberately torture yourself by giving in to depression. 22Happiness makes for a long life and makes it worth living. 23Enjoy yourself and be happy; don't worry all the time. Worry never did anybody any good, and it has destroyed many people. 24It will make you old before your time. Jealousy and anger will shorten your life. 25A cheerful person with a good attitude will have a good appetite and enjoy his food.
Good News Translation® with Deuterocanonicals/Apocrypha (Today’s English Version, Second Edition) © 1992 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
Anglicisation © The British and Foreign Bible Society 1976, 1994, 2004
Additional material © The British and Foreign Bible Society 2017
The copyright for the derivative work of Anglicisation pertains only to the text within the Good News Translation (GNT) that British and Foreign Bible Society adapted for British literary usage, consistent with Section 103(b) of the United States Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. § 103(b).
Bible text from the Good News Translation (GNT) is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by American Bible Society, 101 North Independence Mall East, Floor 8, Philadelphia, PA 19106-2155 (www.americanbible.org).
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
