1He that loveth his son will continue to lay stripes upon him,
That he may have joy of him in the end.

2He that chastiseth his son shall have profit of him,
And shall glory of him among his acquaintance.

3He that teacheth his son shall provoke his enemy to jealousy;
And before friends he shall rejoice of him.

4His father dieth, and is as though he had not died;
For he hath left one behind him like himself.

5In his life, he saw and rejoiced in him;
And when he died, he sorrowed not:

6He left behind him an avenger against his enemies,
And one to requite kindness to his friends.

7He that maketh too much of his son shall bind up his wounds;
And his heart will be troubled at every cry.

8An unbroken horse becometh stubborn;
And a son left at large becometh headstrong.

9Cocker thy child, and he shall make thee afraid:
Play with him, and he will grieve thee.

10Laugh not with him, lest thou have sorrow with him;
And thou shalt gnash thy teeth in the end.

11Give him no liberty in his youth,
¹³¹And wink not at his follies.

12¹³²Bow down his neck in his youth,
And beat him on the sides while he is a child,
Lest he wax stubborn, and be disobedient unto thee;
¹³³And there shall be sorrow to thy soul.

13Chastise thy son, and take pains with him,
Lest his shameless behaviour be an offence unto thee.

14Better is a poor man, being sound and strong of constitution,
Than a rich man that is plagued in his body.

15Health and a good constitution are better than all gold;
And a strong body than wealth without measure.

16There is no riches better than health of body;
And there is no gladness above the joy of the heart.

17Death is better than a bitter life,
¹³⁴And ¹³⁵eternal rest than a continual sickness.

18Good things poured out upon a mouth that is closed
Are as messes of meat laid upon a grave.

19What doth an offering profit an idol?
For neither shall it eat nor smell:
So is he that is afflicted of the Lord,

20Seeing with his eyes and groaning,
As an eunuch embracing a virgin and groaning.

21Give not over thy soul to sorrow;
And afflict not thyself in thine own counsel.

22Gladness of heart is the life of a man;
And the joyfulness of a man is length of days.

23Love thine own soul, and comfort thy heart:
And remove sorrow far from thee;
For sorrow hath destroyed many,
And there is no profit therein.

24Envy and wrath shorten a man’s days;
And care bringeth old age before the time.

25A cheerful and good heart
Will have a care of his meat and diet.