1 Chi ama suo figlio usa spesso la sferza, perché ne gioisca quando è grande. | 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 disciplina suo figlio avrà poi gioia, ne sarà fiero in mezzo ai 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 istruisce suo figlio fa ingelosire il nemico, di lui sarà lieto di fronte agli amici. | 3 He who teaches his son will make his enemy jealous, and in the midst of his friends, he will glory in him. |
4 Suo padre è spirato, ma non è morto, ha lasciato dietro a sé uno che gli somiglia. | 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 In vita, lo ha visto e se n'è rallegrato, quando muore, non deve rammaricarsi. | 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 Per i nemici, ha lasciato chi lo vendica, per gli amici, chi ricambia i favori. | 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 vezzeggia il figlio ne fascerà le ferite, ad ogni grido, le sue viscere tremeranno. | 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 Un cavallo senza freno diventa ostinato, un figlio troppo libero diventa testardo. | 8 An untamed horse becomes stubborn, and a child left to himself becomes headstrong. |
9 Còccola tuo figlio e ti darà brutte sorprese, gioca con lui e ti farà soffrire. | 9 Coddle a son, and he will make you afraid. Play with him, and he will make you sorrowful. |
10 Con lui non ridere, per non dover piangere e battere i denti quando è grande. | 10 You should not laugh with him; otherwise you may have grief, and in the end, your teeth be clenched. |
11 Non dargli libertà quando è giovane, e non sorvolare sui suoi errori. | 11 You should not give him power in his youth, but you should not despise his thoughts. |
12 Fagli piegare il collo in gioventù, batti i suoi fianchi quando è ragazzo, perché non diventi caparbio e ti disobbedisca e non abbia da lui dispiaceri. | 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 Disciplina tuo figlio e òccupati di lui, perché tu non inciampi per la sua depravazione. | 13 Instruct your son, and work with him, lest you give offense by his shameful behavior. |
14 Meglio il povero sano e forte nel corpo che il ricco tribolato nella salute. | 14 Better is a healthy pauper with a strong constitution, than a wealthy man who is weak and afflicted by maladies. |
15 Sanità e vigore son meglio di tutto l'oro, una buona salute val più che smisurata ricchezza. | 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 miglior ricchezza che la salute del corpo, né migliore allegrezza che la gioia del cuore. | 16 There is no revenue above the revenue of a healthy body. And there is no delight above a joyful heart. |
17 E' meglio la morte che una vita amara, il riposo eterno che una malattia cronica. | 17 Death is better than a bitter life. And eternal rest is better than continual sickness. |
18 Vivande versate sulla bocca chiusa son come cibi posti sopra il sepolcro. | 18 Good things hidden in a closed mouth are like seats at a feast placed around a grave. |
19 Che giova all'idolo un'offerta di frutta? Non può mangiarla né odorarla, così è chi è perseguitato dal Signore. | 19 What benefit is there in an offering to an idol? For it can neither eat, nor smell. |
20 Egli guarda con gli occhi e geme, come geme l'eunuco che abbraccia una vergine. | 20 So is he who flees from the Lord, carrying the wages of his iniquity. |
21 Non darti in balìa della tristezza e non affliggerti con la riflessione. | 21 He sees with his eyes and groans, like a eunuch who embraces a virgin and sighs. |
22 La gioia del cuore è vita per l'uomo, la contentezza gli moltiplica i giorni. | 22 You should not give your soul to sadness, and you should not afflict yourself by your own counsel. |
23 Distrai te stesso e consola il tuo cuore, tieni lontano da te la tristezza, perché la tristezza ha rovinato molti, non c'è in essa utilità alcuna. | 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 L'invidia e la rabbia abbreviano i giorni, la preoccupazione porta a precoce vecchiaia. | 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 Un cuore sereno ha buon appetito, gusta quanto mangia. | 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. |