1 ο αγαπων τον υιον αυτου ενδελεχησει μαστιγας αυτω ινα ευφρανθη επ' εσχατων αυτου | 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 ο παιδευων τον υιον αυτου ονησεται επ' αυτω και ανα μεσον γνωριμων επ' αυτω καυχησεται | 2 He who instructs his son will be praised over him and will glory in him, in the midst of his household. |
3 ο διδασκων τον υιον αυτου παραζηλωσει τον εχθρον και εναντι φιλων επ' αυτω αγαλλιασεται | 3 He who teaches his son will make his enemy jealous, and in the midst of his friends, he will glory in him. |
4 ετελευτησεν αυτου ο πατηρ και ως ουκ απεθανεν ομοιον γαρ αυτω κατελιπεν μετ' αυτον | 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 εν τη ζωη αυτου ειδεν και ευφρανθη και εν τη τελευτη αυτου ουκ ελυπηθη | 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 εναντιον εχθρων κατελιπεν εκδικον και τοις φιλοις ανταποδιδοντα χαριν | 6 For he left behind himself a defender of his house against his enemies, and someone who will repay his friends with kindness. |
7 περιψυχων υιον καταδεσμευσει τραυματα αυτου και επι παση βοη ταραχθησεται σπλαγχνα αυτου | 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 ιππος αδαμαστος εκβαινει σκληρος και υιος ανειμενος εκβαινει προαλης | 8 An untamed horse becomes stubborn, and a child left to himself becomes headstrong. |
9 τιθηνησον τεκνον και εκθαμβησει σε συμπαιξον αυτω και λυπησει σε | 9 Coddle a son, and he will make you afraid. Play with him, and he will make you sorrowful. |
10 μη συγγελασης αυτω ινα μη συνοδυνηθης και επ' εσχατων γομφιασεις τους οδοντας σου | 10 You should not laugh with him; otherwise you may have grief, and in the end, your teeth be clenched. |
11 μη δως αυτω εξουσιαν εν νεοτητι | 11 You should not give him power in his youth, but you should not despise his thoughts. |
12 θλασον τας πλευρας αυτου ως εστιν νηπιος μηποτε σκληρυνθεις απειθηση σοι | 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 παιδευσον τον υιον σου και εργασαι εν αυτω ινα μη εν τη ασχημοσυνη αυτου προσκοψης | 13 Instruct your son, and work with him, lest you give offense by his shameful behavior. |
14 κρεισσων πτωχος υγιης και ισχυων τη εξει η πλουσιος μεμαστιγωμενος εις σωμα αυτου | 14 Better is a healthy pauper with a strong constitution, than a wealthy man who is weak and afflicted by maladies. |
15 υγιεια και ευεξια βελτιων παντος χρυσιου και σωμα ευρωστον η ολβος αμετρητος | 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 ουκ εστιν πλουτος βελτιων υγιειας σωματος και ουκ εστιν ευφροσυνη υπερ χαραν καρδιας | 16 There is no revenue above the revenue of a healthy body. And there is no delight above a joyful heart. |
17 κρεισσων θανατος υπερ ζωην πικραν και αναπαυσις αιωνος η αρρωστημα εμμονον | 17 Death is better than a bitter life. And eternal rest is better than continual sickness. |
18 αγαθα εκκεχυμενα επι στοματι κεκλεισμενω θεματα βρωματων παρακειμενα επι ταφω | 18 Good things hidden in a closed mouth are like seats at a feast placed around a grave. |
19 τι συμφερει καρπωσις ειδωλω ουτε γαρ εδεται ουτε μη οσφρανθη ουτως ο εκδιωκομενος υπο κυριου | 19 What benefit is there in an offering to an idol? For it can neither eat, nor smell. |
20 βλεπων εν οφθαλμοις και στεναζων ωσπερ ευνουχος περιλαμβανων παρθενον και στεναζων | 20 So is he who flees from the Lord, carrying the wages of his iniquity. |
21 μη δως εις λυπην την ψυχην σου και μη θλιψης σεαυτον εν βουλη σου | 21 He sees with his eyes and groans, like a eunuch who embraces a virgin and sighs. |
22 ευφροσυνη καρδιας ζωη ανθρωπου και αγαλλιαμα ανδρος μακροημερευσις | 22 You should not give your soul to sadness, and you should not afflict yourself by your own counsel. |
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 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 ζηλος και θυμος ελαττουσιν ημερας και προ καιρου γηρας αγει μεριμνα | 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 λαμπρα καρδια και αγαθη επι εδεσμασιν των βρωματων αυτης επιμελησεται | 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. |