1 ο αγαπων τον υιον αυτου ενδελεχησει μαστιγας αυτω ινα ευφρανθη επ' εσχατων αυτου | 1 He who loves his son chastises him often, that he may be his joy when he grows up. |
2 ο παιδευων τον υιον αυτου ονησεται επ' αυτω και ανα μεσον γνωριμων επ' αυτω καυχησεται | 2 He who disciplines his son will benefit from him, and boast of him among his intimates. |
3 ο διδασκων τον υιον αυτου παραζηλωσει τον εχθρον και εναντι φιλων επ' αυτω αγαλλιασεται | 3 He who educates his son makes his enemy jealous, and shows his delight in him among his friends. |
4 ετελευτησεν αυτου ο πατηρ και ως ουκ απεθανεν ομοιον γαρ αυτω κατελιπεν μετ' αυτον | 4 At the father's death, he will seem not dead, since he leaves after him one like himself, |
5 εν τη ζωη αυτου ειδεν και ευφρανθη και εν τη τελευτη αυτου ουκ ελυπηθη | 5 Whom he looks upon through life with joy, and even in death, without regret: |
6 εναντιον εχθρων κατελιπεν εκδικον και τοις φιλοις ανταποδιδοντα χαριν | 6 The avenger he leaves against his foes, and the one to repay his friends with kindness. |
7 περιψυχων υιον καταδεσμευσει τραυματα αυτου και επι παση βοη ταραχθησεται σπλαγχνα αυτου | 7 He who spoils his son will have wounds to bandage, and will quake inwardly at every outcry. |
8 ιππος αδαμαστος εκβαινει σκληρος και υιος ανειμενος εκβαινει προαλης | 8 A colt untamed turns out stubborn; a son left to himself grows up unruly. |
9 τιθηνησον τεκνον και εκθαμβησει σε συμπαιξον αυτω και λυπησει σε | 9 Pamper your child and he will be a terror for you, indulge him and he will bring you grief. |
10 μη συγγελασης αυτω ινα μη συνοδυνηθης και επ' εσχατων γομφιασεις τους οδοντας σου | 10 Share not in his frivolity lest you share in his sorrow, when finally your teeth are clenched in remorse. |
11 μη δως αυτω εξουσιαν εν νεοτητι | 11 Give him not his own way in his youth, and close not your eyes to his follies. |
12 θλασον τας πλευρας αυτου ως εστιν νηπιος μηποτε σκληρυνθεις απειθηση σοι | 12 Bend him to the yoke when he is young, thrash his sides while he is still small, Lest he become stubborn, disobey you, and leave you disconsolate. |
13 παιδευσον τον υιον σου και εργασαι εν αυτω ινα μη εν τη ασχημοσυνη αυτου προσκοψης | 13 Discipline your son, make heavy his yoke, lest his folly humiliate you. |
14 κρεισσων πτωχος υγιης και ισχυων τη εξει η πλουσιος μεμαστιγωμενος εις σωμα αυτου | 14 Better a poor man strong and robust, than a rich man with wasted frame. |
15 υγιεια και ευεξια βελτιων παντος χρυσιου και σωμα ευρωστον η ολβος αμετρητος | 15 More precious than gold is health and well-being, contentment of spirit than coral. |
16 ουκ εστιν πλουτος βελτιων υγιειας σωματος και ουκ εστιν ευφροσυνη υπερ χαραν καρδιας | 16 No treasure greater than a healthy body; no happiness, than a joyful heart! |
17 κρεισσων θανατος υπερ ζωην πικραν και αναπαυσις αιωνος η αρρωστημα εμμονον | 17 Preferable is death to a bitter life, unending sleep to constant illness. |
18 αγαθα εκκεχυμενα επι στοματι κεκλεισμενω θεματα βρωματων παρακειμενα επι ταφω | 18 Dainties set before one who cannot eat are like the offerings placed before a tomb. |
19 τι συμφερει καρπωσις ειδωλω ουτε γαρ εδεται ουτε μη οσφρανθη ουτως ο εκδιωκομενος υπο κυριου | 19 What good is an offering to an idol that can neither taste nor smell? |
20 βλεπων εν οφθαλμοις και στεναζων ωσπερ ευνουχος περιλαμβανων παρθενον και στεναζων | 20 So it is with the afflicted man who groans at the good things his eyes behold! |
21 μη δως εις λυπην την ψυχην σου και μη θλιψης σεαυτον εν βουλη σου | 21 Do not give in to sadness, torment not yourself with brooding; |
22 ευφροσυνη καρδιας ζωη ανθρωπου και αγαλλιαμα ανδρος μακροημερευσις | 22 Gladness of heart is the very life of man, cheerfulness prolongs his days. |
23 απατα την ψυχην σου και παρακαλει την καρδιαν σου και λυπην μακραν αποστησον απο σου πολλους γαρ απωλεσεν η λυπη και ουκ εστιν ωφελεια εν αυτη | 23 Distract yourself, renew your courage, drive resentment far away from you; For worry has brought death to many, nor is there aught to be gained from resentment. |
24 ζηλος και θυμος ελαττουσιν ημερας και προ καιρου γηρας αγει μεριμνα | 24 Envy and anger shorten one's life, worry brings on premature old age. |
25 λαμπρα καρδια και αγαθη επι εδεσμασιν των βρωματων αυτης επιμελησεται | 25 One who is cheerful and gay while at table benefits from his food. |