Sirach 30 - Contemporary English Version Interconfessional Edition

Raising Children

¹ Parents show love for their children by spanking them whenever they do wrong. Later those parents will be glad to see their children grow into fine adults.

² If parents correct a child, they will someday boast about how much help that child has been to them.

³ Parents who give their children an education make their enemies jealous and can boast to friends. *

⁴ These parents have no regrets when they die, and they live on in their children,

⁵ who brought them such joy.

⁶ Then it is up to the children to take revenge on their parents' enemies, and to be kind to their parents' friends.

⁷ If you spoil your children, you will have to put bandages on the wounds they will get, and you will shake with fear every time you hear shouting.

⁸ That's why you must correct them, so they will not be as stubborn as unbroken horses. *

⁹ If you give children everything they desire and laugh when they sin,

¹⁰ they will end up giving you sadness, terror, and pain.

¹¹ Don't let them do just anything they want, but correct their mistakes.

¹² Break their stubbornness by whipping them while they are young, or else they will disobey you and bring you deep sorrow.

¹³ Take care to discipline them, so they will not disgrace you when they are older.

Health Is Better than Wealth

¹⁴ I would rather be poor, yet healthy and strong, than to be rich and sickly.

¹⁵ To have your health and a good attitude is better than gold and infinite riches.

¹⁶ No amount of money can compare with health or bring happiness deep inside your heart.

¹⁷ Death is better than a life of constant pain and sickness.

¹⁸ If a fine dinner is served, but the guests are too sick to eat, the dinner will go to waste, like food placed on a grave

¹⁹ or like a sacrifice to an idol, which cannot eat or smell. If the Lord punishes people by making them sick,

²⁰ they can only stare at food and groan like a young man unable to have sex who holds a virgin in his arms.

Enjoy Life and Forget Sorrow

²¹ Don't stay sad for too long or look for reasons to be upset.

²² Joy and happiness will help you to live longer.

²³ So enjoy life and forget sorrow, because sorrow never helps, and it has destroyed many.

²⁴ Jealousy and anger will cut your life short, and worrying makes you old before your time.

²⁵ If you are cheerful at meals, the food you eat will do you more good.