Sirach 30
Good News Translation
Bringing up Children
30 A father who loves his son will whip him often, so that he can be proud of him later. 2 If a son is disciplined, he will be of some use, and his father can boast of him to his friends. 3 Anyone who gives good guidance to his son cannot only take pride in him among his friends, but he can make his enemies jealous. 4-5 While 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. 6 He has left someone to take vengeance on his enemies and to return the favors he owes his friends.
7 But anyone who spoils his son will have to bandage his wounds.[a] His heart will stop every time he hears a shout. 8 An untamed horse is going to be stubborn, and an undisciplined son is no different. 9 If you pamper your child and play with him, he will be a disappointment and a source of grief. 10 Laugh with him now, and one day you will have to cry over him, grinding your teeth in regret. 11 Don't give him freedom while he is young, and don't overlook what he does wrong. 12 Whip 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. 13 So discipline your son and give him work to do, or else he will be an embarrassment to you.
Health
14 It is better to be poor, but strong and healthy, than to be rich, but in poor health. 15 A sound, healthy body and a cheerful attitude[b] are more valuable than gold and jewels. 16 Nothing can make you richer or give you greater happiness than those two things. 17 It would be better to be dead, asleep forever, than to live in the misery of chronic illness. 18 The finest food means nothing if you are too sick to eat it; it might as well be offered to an idol.[c] 19 But 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. 20 He looks at his food and sighs, like a castrated man hugging a young woman.
Cheerfulness and Sadness
21 (A)Don't deliberately torture yourself by giving in to depression. 22 Happiness makes for a long life and makes it worth living. 23 Enjoy yourself and be happy; don't worry all the time. Worry never did anybody any good, and it has destroyed many people. 24 It will make you old before your time. Jealousy and anger will shorten your life. 25 A cheerful person with a good attitude will have a good appetite and enjoy his food.
Notas al pie
- Sirach 30:7 will have...wounds; or is going to be hurt.
- Sirach 30:15 Hebrew a cheerful attitude; Greek a strong body.
- Sirach 30:18 Hebrew offered to an idol; Greek placed on a grave.
Sirach 30
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Concerning Children[a]
30 He who loves his son will whip him often,
so that he may rejoice at the way he turns out.(A)
2 He who disciplines his son will profit by him
and will boast of him among acquaintances.
3 He who teaches his son will make his enemies envious
and will glory in him among his friends.(B)
4 When the father dies, he will not seem to be dead,
for he has left behind him one like himself,(C)
5 whom in his life he looked upon with joy
and at death, without grief.
6 He has left behind him an avenger against his enemies
and one to repay the kindness of his friends.(D)
7 Whoever cherishes his son will bind up his wounds,
and at every cry his heart will be troubled.
8 An unbroken horse turns out stubborn,
and an unchecked son turns out headstrong.(E)
9 Pamper a child, and he will terrorize you;
play with him, and he will grieve you.
10 Do not laugh with him, or you will have sorrow with him,
and in the end you will gnash your teeth.
11 Give him no freedom in his youth;[b]
12 beat his sides while he is young,
or else he will become stubborn and disobey you.[c](F)
13 Discipline your son and make his yoke heavy,[d]
so that you may not be offended by his shamelessness.(G)
14 Better off poor, healthy, and fit
than rich and afflicted in body.(H)
15 Health and fitness are better than any gold
and a robust body[e] than countless riches.
16 There is no wealth better than health of body
and no gladness above joy of heart.
17 Death is better than a life of misery
and eternal sleep[f] than chronic sickness.(I)
Concerning Foods[g]
18 Good things poured out upon a mouth that is closed
are like offerings of food placed upon a grave.(J)
19 Of what use to an idol is a sacrifice?
For it can neither eat nor smell.
So is the one punished by the Lord;(K)
20 he sees with his eyes and groans
as a eunuch groans when embracing a young woman.[h](L)
21 Do not give yourself over to sorrow,
and do not distress yourself deliberately.(M)
22 A joyful heart is life itself,
and rejoicing lengthens one’s life span.(N)
23 Indulge yourself[i] and take comfort,
and remove sorrow far from you,
for sorrow has destroyed many,
and no advantage ever comes from it.(O)
24 Jealousy and anger shorten life,
and anxiety brings on premature old age.(P)
25 Those who are cheerful and merry at table
will benefit from their food.(Q)
Notas al pie
- 30.1 This heading is included in the Gk text.
- 30.11 Other ancient authorities add and do not ignore his errors. Bow down his neck in his youth,
- 30.12 Other ancient authorities add and you will have sorrow of soul from him
- 30.13 Heb: Gk take pains with him
- 30.15 Gk: Syr Heb read spirit
- 30.17 Other ancient authorities lack eternal sleep
- 30.18 This heading is included in the Gk text; other ancient authorities place the heading before 30.16
- 30.20 Other ancient authorities add So is the person who does right under compulsion
- 30.23 Other ancient authorities read Beguile yourself
Sirach 30
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
30 He that loveth his son, frequently chastiseth him, that he may rejoice in his latter end, and not grope after the doors of his neighbours.
2 He that instructeth his son shall be praised in him, and shall glory in him in the midst of them of his household.
3 He that teacheth his son, maketh his enemy jealous, and in the midst of his friends he shall glory in him.
4 His father is dead, and he is as if he were not dead: for he hath left one behind him that is like himself.
5 While he lived he saw and rejoiced in him: and when he died he was not sorrowful, neither was he confounded before his enemies.
6 For he left behind him a defender of his house against his enemies, and one that will requite kindness to his friends.
7 For the souls of his sons he shall bind up his wounds, and at every cry his bowels shall be troubled.
8 A horse not broken becometh stubborn, and a child left to himself will become headstrong.
9 Give thy son his way, and he shall make thee afraid: play with him, and he shall make thee sorrowful.
10 Laugh not with him, lest thou have sorrow, and at the last thy teeth be set on edge.
11 Give him not liberty in his youth, and wink not at his devices.
12 Bow down his neck while he is young, and beat his sides while he is a child, lest he grow stubborn, and regard thee not, and so be a sorrow of heart to thee.
13 Instruct thy son, and labour about him, lest his lewd behaviour be an offence to thee.
14 Better is a poor man who is sound, and strong of constitution, than a rich man who is weak and afflicted with evils.
15 Health of the soul in holiness of justice, is better then all gold and silver: and a sound body, than immense revenues.
16 There is no riches above the riches of the health of the body: and there is no pleasure above the joy of the heart.
17 Better is death than a bitter life: and everlasting rest, than continual sickness.
18 Good things that are hidden in a mouth that is shut, are as masses of meat set about a grave.
19 What good shall an offering do to an idol? for it can neither eat, nor smell:
20 So is he that is persecuted by the Lord, bearing the reward of his iniquity:
21 He seeth with his eyes, and groaneth, as an eunuch embracing a virgin, and sighing.
22 Give not up thy soul to sadness, and afflict not thyself in thy own counsel.
23 The joyfulness of the heart, is the life of a man, and a never failing treasure of holiness: and the joy of a man is length of life.
24 Have pity on thy own soul, pleasing God, and contain thyself: gather up thy heart in his holiness: and drive away sadness far from thee.
25 For sadness hath killed many, and there is no profit in it.
26 Envy and anger shorten a man's days, and pensiveness will bring old age before the time.
27 A Cheerful and good heart is always feasting: for his banquets are prepared with diligence.
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