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Concerning Children ^*

30He 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.
⁴ When the father dies he will not seem to be dead,
   for he has left behind him one like himself,
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.

⁷ Whoever spoils his son will bind up his wounds,
   and will suffer heartache at every cry.
⁸ An unbroken horse turns out stubborn,
   and an unchecked son turns out headstrong.
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,
   and do not ignore his errors.
¹² Bow down his neck in his youth,^*
   and beat his sides while he is young,
or else he will become stubborn and disobey you,
   and you will have sorrow of soul from him.^*
13 Discipline your son and make his yoke heavy,^*
   so that you may not be offended by his shamelessness.

¹⁴ Better off poor, healthy, and fit
   than rich and afflicted in body.
¹⁵ Health and fitness are better than any gold,
   and a robust body 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^* than chronic sickness.

Concerning Foods ^*

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

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