| 1 Chi ama il proprio figlio lo castiga di continuo per gioirne alla fine. | 1 He who loves his son will frequently chastise him, so that he may be happy in the very end, and not grope for the doors of his neighbors. |
| 2 Chi corregge il figlio sarà felice di lui e ne menerà vanto tra i conoscenti. | 2 He who instructs his son will be praised over him and will glory in him, in the midst of his household. |
| 3 Chi ammaestra il figlio ingelosisce il nemico e, davanti agli amici, fa gioia e festa. | 3 He who teaches his son will make his enemy jealous, and in the midst of his friends, he will glory in him. |
| 4 Muore il padre, ma è come se non morisse, perchè Escia dietro di sè chi gli assomiglia. | 4 When his father has died, it will be as if he were not dead. For he will have left behind someone who is like himself. |
| 5 Vivendo, lo vede e ne gioisce; morendo, poi, non se ne rattrista, | 5 In his life, he saw him and rejoiced in him. And at his passing, he was not sorrowful, nor was he confounded in the sight of his enemies. |
| 6 perchè lascia un vendicatore per il nemico, per gli amici uno che sa rendere i benefici. | 6 For he left behind himself a defender of his house against his enemies, and someone who will repay his friends with kindness. |
| 7 Chi è blando con il figlio deve poi bendarne le ferite; a ogni lamento, si commuoverà nelle viscere. | 7 For the sake of the souls of his sons, he will bind up his wounds, and at every voice, his gut will be stirred up. |
| 8 Cavallo non domato cresce vizioso; figlio abbandonato a se stesso diventa temerario. | 8 An untamed horse becomes stubborn, and a child left to himself becomes headstrong. |
| 9 Se accarezzi tuo figlio, ti incuterà terrore; se lo vezzeggi, ti rattristerà. | 9 Coddle a son, and he will make you afraid. Play with him, and he will make you sorrowful. |
| 10 Non ridere con lui per non patire insieme e trovarti infine a battere i denti. | 10 You should not laugh with him; otherwise you may have grief, and in the end, your teeth be clenched. |
| 11 Non dargli potere in gioventù e non sopportarne le scorrettezze. | 11 You should not give him power in his youth, but you should not despise his thoughts. |
| 12 Piegagli il capo da fanciullo e scudisciane i fianchi quando è piccolo; altrimenti, se diventerà ostinato, ti disubbidirà e causerà un dolore all’anima. | 12 Bow down his neck in his youth, and slap his sides while he is a child, lest perhaps he may become stubborn, and then he will not trust you, and so he will bring sorrow to your soul. |
| 13 Castiga il figlio e aggravane il giogo, perchè egli, stolto, non si levi contro di te. | 13 Instruct your son, and work with him, lest you give offense by his shameful behavior. |
| 14 Meglio povero ma sano di corpo anzichè ricco e afflitto nel fisico. | 14 Better is a healthy pauper with a strong constitution, than a wealthy man who is weak and afflicted by maladies. |
| 15 Preferisco la sanità del corpo all’oro e uno spirito buono alle perle. | 15 A healthy soul with the sanctity of justice is better than all the gold and silver. And a sound body is better than immense revenues. |
| 16 Non c’è ricchezza maggiore di una salute ferma e non c’è cosa più gioconda del cuore buono. | 16 There is no revenue above the revenue of a healthy body. And there is no delight above a joyful heart. |
| 17 Meglio morire che menare una vita vana; un riposo eterno è meglio di un lungo dolore. | 17 Death is better than a bitter life. And eternal rest is better than continual sickness. |
| 18 Cose buone proposte a una bocca chiusa sono come un’offerta dinanzi all’idolo. | 18 Good things hidden in a closed mouth are like seats at a feast placed around a grave. |
| 19 Che cosa giova agli idoli delle genti che non mangiano nè aspirano odori? Così è dunque di chi ha ricchezze e non può giovarsi dei suoi beni. | 19 What benefit is there in an offering to an idol? For it can neither eat, nor smell. |
| 20 Egli vede con i suoi occhi e geme come geme un eunuco che abbraccia una vergine. | 20 So is he who flees from the Lord, carrying the wages of his iniquity. |
| 21 Non abbandonarti alla tristezza e non affannarti nelle tue riflessioni. | 21 He sees with his eyes and groans, like a eunuch who embraces a virgin and sighs. |
| 22 La giocondità del cuore è la vita dell’uomo; il gaudio prolunga il respiro all’uomo. | 22 You should not give your soul to sadness, and you should not afflict yourself by your own counsel. |
| 23 Allieta la tua anima ed esibita il tuo cuore e tieni lontana la tristezza da te: perchè molti ne ha ucciso la tristezza e in essa non c’è utilità. | 23 The gladness of the heart is the life of a man, and it is a treasure of sanctity without defect. And the exultation of a man is length of life. |
| 24 Gelosia e furore accorciano i giorni, le ansie fanno invecchiare innanzi tempo. | 24 Take pity on your own soul by pleasing God, and show self-restraint. Gather your heart into his sanctity, and drive sadness far away from yourself. |
| 25 Ora il sonno di un cuore lieto è più della leccornia e il suo cibo gli giova. | 25 For sadness has killed many, and there is no usefulness in it. |
| 26 Envy and anger will diminish your days, and pensiveness will bring old age before its time. |
| 27 A cheerful and good heart is like a feast. And its feasts are formed by diligence. |
