1 El que ama a su hijo lo castiga asiduamente, para poder alegrarse de él en el futuro. | 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 El que educa bien a su hijo encontrará satisfacción en él y se sentirá orgulloso entre sus conocidos. | 2 He who instructs his son will be praised over him and will glory in him, in the midst of his household. |
3 El que instruye a su hijo dará envidia a su enemigo y se sentirá dichoso delante de sus amigos, | 3 He who teaches his son will make his enemy jealous, and in the midst of his friends, he will glory in him. |
4 Muere el padre, y es como si no muriera, porque deja detrás de sí a uno igual a él. | 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 Mientras vive, se alegra de verlo, y a su muerte, no siente ningún pesar: | 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 deja a alguien que lo vengará de sus enemigos y devolverá los favores a sus amigos. | 6 For he left behind himself a defender of his house against his enemies, and someone who will repay his friends with kindness. |
7 El que mima a su hijo vendará sus heridas y a cada grito que dé, se le conmoverán las entrañas. | 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 caballo sin domar se vuelve reacio, y un hijo consentido se vuelve insolente. | 8 An untamed horse becomes stubborn, and a child left to himself becomes headstrong. |
9 Malcría a tu hijo, y te hará temblar; juega con él, y te llenará de tristeza. | 9 Coddle a son, and he will make you afraid. Play with him, and he will make you sorrowful. |
10 No hagas bromas con él, para no sufrir con él ni rechinar tus dientes al final. | 10 You should not laugh with him; otherwise you may have grief, and in the end, your teeth be clenched. |
11 No les des rienda suelta en su juventud, | 11 You should not give him power in his youth, but you should not despise his thoughts. |
12 pégale sin temor mientras es niño, no sea que se vuelva rebelde y te desobedezca. | 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 Educa a tu hijo y fórmalo bien, para que no tengas que soportar su desvergüenza. | 13 Instruct your son, and work with him, lest you give offense by his shameful behavior. |
14 Más vale pobre sano y vigoroso que rico lleno de achaques. | 14 Better is a healthy pauper with a strong constitution, than a wealthy man who is weak and afflicted by maladies. |
15 La salud y el vigor valen más que todo el oro y el cuerpo robusto, más que una inmensa fortuna. | 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 No hay mejor riqueza que la salud del cuerpo ni mayor felicidad que la alegría del corazón. | 16 There is no revenue above the revenue of a healthy body. And there is no delight above a joyful heart. |
17 Es preferible la muerte a una vida amarga y el descanso eterno a una enfermedad incurable. | 17 Death is better than a bitter life. And eternal rest is better than continual sickness. |
18 Manjares derramados sobre una boca cerrada son los alimentos depositados sobre una tumba: | 18 Good things hidden in a closed mouth are like seats at a feast placed around a grave. |
19 ¿de qué le sirve al ídolo la ofrenda si no puede comer ni gustar? Así pasa con el hombre perseguido por el Señor: | 19 What benefit is there in an offering to an idol? For it can neither eat, nor smell. |
20 mira con sus ojos y lanza un suspiro, como un eunuco cuando abraza a una virgen. | 20 So is he who flees from the Lord, carrying the wages of his iniquity. |
21 No dejes que la tristeza se apodere de ti ni te atormentes con tus cavilaciones. | 21 He sees with his eyes and groans, like a eunuch who embraces a virgin and sighs. |
22 Un corazón alegre es la vida del hombre y el gozo alarga el número de sus días. | 22 You should not give your soul to sadness, and you should not afflict yourself by your own counsel. |
23 Vive ilusionado y consuela tu corazón, y aparta lejos de ti la tristeza, porque la tristeza fue la perdición de muchos y no se saca de ella ningún provecho. | 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 La envidia y la ira acortan la vida y las preocupaciones hacen envejecer antes de tiempo. | 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 hombre de corazón alegre tiene buen apetito y lo que come le hace provecho. | 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. |