Eclesiástico 30

1El que ama a su hijo, le hace sentir a menudo el azote para hallar en él al fin su consuelo, para que no llame de puerta en puerta.

2Quien instruye a su hijo será honrado en él; y de él se gloriará con la gente de su casa.

3Quien instruye a su hijo causará envidia a su enemigo, y se preciará de él en medio de sus amigos.

4Muere su padre, y es como si no muriese, porque deja después de sí otro semejante a él.

5En vida suya lo vio, y se alegró en él; al morir no tuvo por qué contristarse, ni confundirse a vista de sus enemigos;

6pues ha dejado a la casa un defensor contra los enemigos; y uno que será agradecido a los amigos.

7Por las almas de sus hijos vendará (el padre) las heridas de ellos, y a cualquier voz se conmoverán sus entrañas.

8Un caballo no domado se hace intratable: así un hijo abandonado a sí mismo se hace insolente.

9Halaga al hijo y te hará temblar; juega con él, y te llenará de pesadumbres.

10No te rías con él, no sea que tengas que llorar, y al fin tus dientes sientan la dentera.

11No le des libertad en su juventud, y no disimules sus locuras.

12Dóblale la cerviz en la mocedad, y dale con la vara en las costillas, mientras es niño; no sea que se endurezca y te niegue la obediencia; lo que causará dolor a tu alma.

13Instruye a tu hijo, y trabaja en formarle, para no ser cómplice en su deshonor.

14Más vale el pobre sano y de robustas fuerzas, que el rico débil y acosado de males.

15La salud del alma, que consiste en la santidad de la justicia, vale más que todo el oro y la plata; y un cuerpo robusto, más que inmensas riquezas.

16No hay tesoro que valga más que la salud del cuerpo, ni hay placer mayor que el gozo del corazón.

17Preferible es la muerte a una vida amarga, y el eterno reposo, a una dolencia continua.

18Los bienes conservados en una boca cerrada, son como las exquisitas viandas dispuestas sobre un sepulcro.

19¿De qué le sirven al ídolo las libaciones? Porque él ni comerá, ni percibirá el olor de ellas.

20Así acontece a quien es castigado del Señor y recibe el pago de su iniquidad.

21Está mirando con sus ojos, y no hace sino gemir, como el eunuco que abraza una doncella, y da un suspiro.

22No dejes que la tristeza se apodere de tu alma, ni te aflijas a ti mismo con tus pensamientos.

23La alegría del corazón es la vida del hombre, y un tesoro inexhausto de santidad; el regocijo alarga la vida del hombre.

24Apiádate de tu alma, agrada a Dios y sé continente; fija tu corazón en la santidad del Señor, y arroja lejos de ti la tristeza,

25porque a muchos ha matado, y para nada es buena.

26La envidia y la ira abrevian los días, y las zozobras aceleran la vejez antes de tiempo.

27El corazón magnánimo y bueno esta como en banquetes, cuyos platos se guisan con esmero.

1[Qui diligit filium suum assiduat illi flagella, ut lætetur in novissimo suo, et non palpet proximorum ostia.

2Qui docet filium suum laudabitur in illo, et in medio domesticorum in illo gloriabitur.

3Qui docet filium suum in zelum mittit inimicum, et in medio amicorum gloriabitur in illo.

4Mortuus est pater ejus, et quasi non est mortuus: similem enim reliquit sibi post se.

5In vita sua vidit, et lætatus est in illo: in obitu suo non est contristatus, nec confusus est coram inimicis:

6reliquit enim defensorem domus contra inimicos, et amicis reddentem gratiam.

7Pro animabus filiorum colligabit vulnera sua, et super omnem vocem turbabuntur viscera ejus.

8Equus indomitus evadit durus, et filius remissus evadet præceps.

9Lacta filium, et paventem te faciet: lude cum eo, et contristabit te.

10Non corrideas illi, ne doleas, et in novissimo obstupescent dentes tui.

11Non des illi potestatem in juventute, et ne despicias cogitatus illius.

12Curva cervicem ejus in juventute, et tunde latera ejus dum infans est, ne forte induret, et non credat tibi, et erit tibi dolor animæ.

13Doce filium tuum, et operare in illo, ne in turpitudinem illius offendas.]

14[Melior est pauper sanus, et fortis viribus, quam dives imbecillis et flagellatus malitia.

15Salus animæ in sanctitate justitiæ melior est omni auro et argento: et corpus validum quam census immensus.

16Non est census super censum salutis corporis, et non est oblectamentum super cordis gaudium.

17Melior est mors quam vita amara, et requies æterna quam languor perseverans.

18Bona abscondita in ore clauso, quasi appositiones epularum circumpositæ sepulchro.

19Quid proderit libatio idolo? nec enim manducabit, nec odorabit.

20Sic qui effugatur a Domino, portans mercedes iniquitatis:

21videns oculis et ingemiscens, sicut spado complectens virginem, et suspirans.

22Tristitiam non des animæ tuæ, et non affligas temetipsum in consilio tuo.

23Jucunditas cordis, hæc est vita hominis, et thesaurus sine defectione sanctitatis: et exsultatio viri est longævitas.

24Miserere animæ tuæ placens Deo, et contine: congrega cor tuum in sanctitate ejus, et tristitiam longe repelle a te.

25Multos enim occidit tristitia, et non est utilitas in illa.

26Zelus et iracundia minuunt dies, et ante tempus senectam adducet cogitatus.

27Splendidum cor et bonum in epulis est: epulæ enim illius diligenter fiunt.]

1He that loveth his son, frequently chastiseth him, that he may rejoice in his latter end, and not grope after the doors of his neighbours.

2He that instructeth his son shall be praised in him, and shall glory in him in the midst of them of his household.

3He that teacheth his son, maketh his enemy jealous, and in the midst of his friends he shall glory in him.

4His father is dead, and he is as if he were not dead: for he hath left one behind him that is like himself.

5While he lived he saw and rejoiced in him: and when he died he was not sorrowful, neither was he confounded before his enemies.

6For he left behind him a defender of his house against his enemies, and one that will requite kindness to his friends.

7For the souls of his sons he shall bind up his wounds, and at every cry his bowels shall be troubled.

8A horse not broken becometh stubborn, and a child left to himself will become headstrong.

9Give thy son his way, and he shall make thee afraid: play with him, and he shall make thee sorrowful.

10Laugh not with him, lest thou have sorrow, and at the last thy teeth be set on edge.

11Give him not liberty in his youth, and wink not at his devices.

12Bow 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.

13Instruct thy son, and labour about him, lest his lewd behaviour be an offence to thee.

14Better is a poor man who is sound, and strong of constitution, than a rich man who is weak and afflicted with evils.

15Health of the soul in holiness of justice, is better then all gold and silver: and a sound body, than immense revenues.

16There is no riches above the riches of the health of the body: and there is no pleasure above the joy of the heart.

17Better is death than a bitter life: and everlasting rest, than continual sickness.

18Good things that are hidden in a mouth that is shut, are as masses of meat set about a grave.

19What good shall an offering do to an idol? for it can neither eat, nor smell:

20So is he that is persecuted by the Lord, bearing the reward of his iniquity:

21He seeth with his eyes, and groaneth, as an eunuch embracing a virgin, and sighing.

22Give not up thy soul to sadness, and afflict not thyself in thy own counsel.

23The 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.

24Have pity on thy own soul, pleasing God, and contain thyself: gather up thy heart in his holiness: and drive away sadness far from thee.

25For sadness hath killed many, and there is no profit in it.

26Envy and anger shorten a man’s days, and pensiveness will bring old age before the time.

27A Cheerful and good heart is always feasting: for his banquets are prepared with diligence.