Par bērniem
1 Kas dēlu mīl, nemitēsies to šaustīt,
lai dienu nogalē būtu no viņa prieks;
2 kas dēlu pamāca, no viņa gūs prieku
un pazīstamo vidū ar viņu leposies.
3 Kas dēlu māca, sēj skaudību naidniekos
un draugu vidū par dēlu līksmosies.
4 Tēvs miris, bet it kā nebūtu aizgājis,
jo palicējos sev līdzīgu atstājis.
5 Vēl dzīvs tēvs skatījās un priecājās
un aizejot nebija noskumis,
6 naidniekiem atstājis atriebēju,
labā atlīdzinātāju – draugiem.
7 Kas dēlu lutina, tas vēlāk viņa brūces pārsies,
ikkatru kliedzienu izdzirdot, iekšēji nodrebēs.
8 Nepakļāvīgs izrādīsies zirgs, kurš nav iejāts,
straujš būs nesavaldīts dēls.
9 Lutini bērnu – viņš pārsteigs tevi,
spēlējies – viņš tevi skumdinās;
10 nesmejies līdzi, lai nebūtu līdzi jācieš
un jākož pirkstos, laikam aizritot.
11 Nedod viņam brīvību jaunībā
un neatstāj neievērotas aplamības;
12 apliec iemauktus, kamēr jauns,
lai nekļūst nepadevīgs, lai klausa tevi.
13 Pamāci dēlu! Nodarbojies ar viņu,
lai tev nenāktos sašust par viņa nekaunību.
Veselība un dzīvesprieks
14 Labāk nabags, bet spirgts un vesels
nekā bagāts, bet sagandētu miesu;
15 veselība un spirgtums ir labāks par zeltu,
miesas izturība – par neizmērojamu bagātību.
16 Nav lielākas bagātības par veselu miesu,
nav lielāka prieka par sirdsprieku;
17 labāk nāve nekā sūra dzīve,
mūžīgs miers nekā pastāvīga sirgšana.
18 Labumi, kas aizvērtai mutei tek garām,
ēdienu veltes gar kapa malām.
19 Kāds gan labums no upurdāvanas elkam:
ne tam ēst, ne ļauties smaržām.
Tā klājas Kunga tramdītajam:
20 ar skatienu tas noraugās un sten,
kā einuhs, meiteni apkampdams.
Tā klājas tam, kas uzmācas
par varītēm ar savu spriedumu.
21 Neatvēli sevi skumjām!
Pats sevi tīšu prātu nemoki!
22 Sirdsprieks – cilvēka dzīvība,
līksmība – garš mūžs.
23 Iepriecini sevi! Iedrošini sirdi!
Turpretī skumjas raidi tālu prom,
jo tās ir iznīcinājušas daudzus
un nav nekāda labuma no tām.
24 Greizsirdība un niknums saīsina mūžu.
No raizēm pirms laika noveco.
25 Skaidra un laba sirds neatstās novārtā
ēdienu savā uzturā.
Bringing up Children
1 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, but he can make his enemies jealous. 4-5 While the father is alive, the sight of his son makes him happy, and when he dies, he has no regrets. He is not really dead, because his son is like him. 6 He has left someone to take vengeance on his enemies and to return the favors he owes his friends.
7 But anyone who spoils his son will have to bandage his wounds. His heart will stop every time he hears a shout. 8 An untamed horse is going to be stubborn, and an undisciplined son is no different. 9 If you pamper your child and play with him, he will be a disappointment and a source of grief. 10 Laugh with him now, and one day you will have to cry over him, grinding your teeth in regret. 11 Don't give him freedom while he is young, and don't overlook what he does wrong. 12 Whip him while he is still a child, and make him respect your authority. If you don't, he will be stubborn and disobedient and cause you nothing but sorrow. 13 So discipline your son and give him work to do, or else he will be an embarrassment to you.
Health
14 It is better to be poor, but strong and healthy, than to be rich, but in poor health. 15 A sound, healthy body and a cheerful attitude are more valuable than gold and jewels. 16 Nothing can make you richer or give you greater happiness than those two things. 17 It would be better to be dead, asleep forever, than to live in the misery of chronic illness. 18 The finest food means nothing if you are too sick to eat it; it might as well be offered to an idol. 19 But there is no point in offering food to an idol; it can't eat it or smell it. It is just the same with someone whom the Lord has afflicted. 20 He looks at his food and sighs, like a castrated man hugging a young woman.
Cheerfulness and Sadness
21 Don't deliberately torture yourself by giving in to depression. 22 Happiness makes for a long life and makes it worth living. 23 Enjoy yourself and be happy; don't worry all the time. Worry never did anybody any good, and it has destroyed many people. 24 It will make you old before your time. Jealousy and anger will shorten your life. 25 A cheerful person with a good attitude will have a good appetite and enjoy his food.
