Sirach 30 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Concerning Children[a]

30 He who loves his son will whip him often,
so that he may rejoice at the way he turns out.(A)
2 He who disciplines his son will profit by him
and will boast of him among acquaintances.
3 He who teaches his son will make his enemies envious
and will glory in him among his friends.(B)
4 When the father dies, he will not seem to be dead,
for he has left behind him one like himself,(C)
5 whom in his life he looked upon with joy
and at death, without grief.
6 He has left behind him an avenger against his enemies
and one to repay the kindness of his friends.(D)

7 Whoever cherishes his son will bind up his wounds,
and at every cry his heart will be troubled.
8 An unbroken horse turns out stubborn,
and an unchecked son turns out headstrong.(E)
9 Pamper a child, and he will terrorize you;
play with him, and he will grieve you.
10 Do not laugh with him, or you will have sorrow with him,
and in the end you will gnash your teeth.
11 Give him no freedom in his youth;[b]
12 beat his sides while he is young,
or else he will become stubborn and disobey you.[c](F)
13 Discipline your son and make his yoke heavy,[d]
so that you may not be offended by his shamelessness.(G)

14 Better off poor, healthy, and fit
than rich and afflicted in body.(H)
15 Health and fitness are better than any gold
and a robust body[e] than countless riches.
16 There is no wealth better than health of body
and no gladness above joy of heart.
17 Death is better than a life of misery
and eternal sleep[f] than chronic sickness.(I)

Concerning Foods[g]

18 Good things poured out upon a mouth that is closed
are like offerings of food placed upon a grave.(J)
19 Of what use to an idol is a sacrifice?
For it can neither eat nor smell.
So is the one punished by the Lord;(K)
20 he sees with his eyes and groans
as a eunuch groans when embracing a young woman.[h](L)

21 Do not give yourself over to sorrow,
and do not distress yourself deliberately.(M)
22 A joyful heart is life itself,
and rejoicing lengthens one’s life span.(N)
23 Indulge yourself[i] and take comfort,
and remove sorrow far from you,
for sorrow has destroyed many,
and no advantage ever comes from it.(O)
24 Jealousy and anger shorten life,
and anxiety brings on premature old age.(P)
25 Those who are cheerful and merry at table
will benefit from their food.(Q)

Footnotes

  1. 30.1This heading is included in the Gk text.
  2. 30.11Other ancient authorities add and do not ignore his errors. Bow down his neck in his youth,
  3. 30.12Other ancient authorities add and you will have sorrow of soul from him
  4. 30.13Heb: Gk take pains with him
  5. 30.15Gk: Syr Heb read spirit
  6. 30.17Other ancient authorities lack eternal sleep
  7. 30.18This heading is included in the Gk text; other ancient authorities place the heading before 30.16
  8. 30.20Other ancient authorities add So is the person who does right under compulsion
  9. 30.23Other ancient authorities read Beguile yourself

Cross references

  1. 30.1 : Prov 13.24; 29.17; Sir 42.5
  2. 30.3 : Deut 4.9; 6.7
  3. 30.4 : 1 Kings 1.48
  4. 30.6 : 1 Kings 2.5, 7, 8
  5. 30.8 : Prov 29.15
  6. 30.12 : Prov 17.21; Sir 7.23
  7. 30.13 : Prov 22.6; Eph 6.4
  8. 30.14 : Eccl 5.12
  9. 30.17 : Sir 41.2
  10. 30.18 : Tob 4.17
  11. 30.19 : Ps 115.6; Bel 7
  12. 30.20 : Sir 20.4
  13. 30.21 : Prov 12.25; 15.13; 17.22
  14. 30.22 : Prov 17.22
  15. 30.23 : Sir 38.18; 2 Cor 7.10
  16. 30.24 : Prov 14.30
  17. 30.25 : Eccl 8.15; 9.7

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30 He that loveth his son, giveth busily beatings to him, (so) that he be glad in his last thing, and (so) that the son touch not the doors of (the) neighbours. [Who loveth his son, busily giveth to him scourges, that he glad in his last, and that he grope not the doors of neighbours.] 2 He that tea...
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Sirach 30 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

30 He who loves his son will whip him often, in order that he may rejoice at the way he turns out.2 He who disciplines his son will profit by him, and will boast of him among acquaintances.3 He who teaches his son will make his enemies envious, and will glory in him in the presence of friends.4 The[...
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Sirach 30 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Concering Children30 He who loves his son will whip him often, in order that he may rejoice at the way he turns out.2 He who disciplines his son will profit by him, and will boast of him among acquaintances.3 He who teaches his son will make his enemies envious, and will glory in him in the presence...
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Sirach 30 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Concerning Children[a]30 He who loves his son will whip him often, so that he may rejoice at the way he turns out.2 He who disciplines his son will profit by him, and will boast of him among acquaintances.3 He who teaches his son will make his enemies envious, and will glory in him among his friends...
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Sirach 30 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Concerning Children[a]30 He who loves his son will whip him often, so that he may rejoice at the way he turns out.(A)2 He who disciplines his son will profit by him and will boast of him among acquaintances.3 He who teaches his son will make his enemies envious and will glory in him among his friend...
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Sirach 30 - Good News Translation (GNT)

Bringing up Children30 A father who loves his son will whip him often, so that he can be proud of him later. 2 If a son is disciplined, he will be of some use, and his father can boast of him to his friends. 3 Anyone who gives good guidance to his son cannot only take pride in him among his friends,...
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Sirach 30 - Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)

30 He that loveth his son, frequently chastiseth him, that he may rejoice in his latter end, and not grope after the doors of his neighbours. 2 He that instructeth his son shall be praised in him, and shall glory in him in the midst of them of his household. 3 He that teacheth his son, maketh his en...
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Sirach 30 - Common English Bible (CEB)

Concerning children[a]30 The person who loves his sonswill discipline them often so that he may be glad about how they turn out.2 Whoever instructs his sonswill benefit from them, and he will boast about them among his acquaintances.3 The person who teaches his sonswill make his enemy jealous, but a...
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