Sirach chapter 30
[This chapter is in Orthodox and Catholic Bibles] Be wise about how you train your children. The benefits of robust health.
The Book of Sirach is recognized as Deuterocanonical Scripture by the Orthodox and Catholic Churches
BE WISE ABOUT HOW YOU TRAIN YOUR CHILDREN
VERSE 1. He that loves his son will continue to lay stripes upon him, That he may have joy of him in the end.
lay stripes upon him. That is, “beat” him. In those days, physically striking a child was thought to be beneficial. We see this notion repeated in verse 12 below.
VERSE 2. He that chastises his son shall have profit of him, And shall glory of him among his acquaintance.
chastises his son. To chastise is to correct.
However, some parents constantly criticize and berate their children. That is not what this passage is describing.
VERSE 3. He that teaches his son shall provoke his enemy to jealousy; And before friends he shall rejoice of him.
VERSE 4. His father dies, and is as though he had not died; For he has left one behind him like himself.
VERSE 5. In his life, he saw and rejoiced in him; And when he died, he sorrowed not:
VERSE 6. He left behind him an avenger against his enemies, And one to requite kindness to his friends.
VERSE 7. He that makes too much of his son shall bind up his wounds; And his heart will be troubled at every cry.
VERSE 8. An unbroken horse becomes stubborn; And a son left at large becomes headstrong.
a son left at large becomes headstrong. If a son is left to himself, he becomes unruly.
VERSE 9. Cocker your child, and he shall make you afraid: Play with him, and he will grieve you.
Cocker your child. That is, “pamper” your child.
he shall make you afraid. Some children are a terror for their parents.
VERSE 10. Laugh not with him, lest you have sorrow with him; And you shall gnash your teeth in the end.
Laugh not with him. A parent should not join in on the frivolity of an unruly child.
VERSE 11. Give him no liberty in his youth, And wink not at his follies.
A portion of this verse is omitted in the best manuscripts.
VERSE 12. Bow down his neck in his youth, And beat him on the sides while he is a child, Lest he wax stubborn, and be disobedient to you; And there shall be sorrow to your soul.
A portion of this verse is omitted in the best manuscripts.
beat him on the sides while he is a child. That is, “spank” him. In those days, physically striking a child was thought to be beneficial. We saw this notion repeated in verse 1 above.
VERSE 13. Chastise your son, and take pains with him, Lest his shameless behavior be an offence to you.
THE BENEFITS OF ROBUST HEALTH
VERSE 14. Better is a poor man, being sound and strong of constitution, Than a rich man that is plagued in his body.
sound and strong of constitution. That is, “strong and robust health.”
plagued in his body. That is, “wasting away with illness.”
It is better to have good health, even if you are poor, than to be rich but have bad health.
VERSE 15. Health and a good constitution are better than all gold; And a strong body than wealth without measure.
KJV translation. Health and good estate of body are above all gold, and a strong body above infinite wealth.
Health and a good constitution. Good health is a great treasure. It’s worth more than gold.
If you are healthy, you have something to be very thankful for!
better than all gold. If you are chronically ill, you are probably willing to spend all your money to get your health back.
VERSE 16. There is no riches better than health of body; And there is no gladness above the joy of the heart.
VERSE 17. Death is better than a bitter life, And eternal rest than a continual sickness.
NAB translation. Preferable is death to a bitter life, unending sleep to constant illness.
And eternal rest. The best manuscripts omit this phrase.
VERSE 18. Good things poured out upon a mouth that is closed Are as messes of meat laid upon a grave.
VERSE 19. What does an offering profit an idol? For neither shall it eat nor smell: So is he that is afflicted of the Lord,
VERSE 20. Seeing with his eyes and groaning, As an eunuch embracing a virgin and groaning.
VERSE 21. Give not over your soul to sorrow; And afflict not yourself in your own counsel.
Give not … to sorrow. We are to NOT give in to sadness.
VERSE 22. Gladness of heart is the life of a man; And the joyfulness of a man is length of days.
KJV translation. The gladness of the heart is the life of man, and the joyfulness of a man prolongeth his days.
Gladness of heart. Gladness is vital.
is the life of a man. Gladness has great repercussions!
the joyfulness of a man prolongeth his days. Many people imagine joy is something that just shows up, sort of unexpectedly.
However, biblically, “joy” is something we “do.”
VERSE 23. Love your own soul, and comfort your heart: And remove sorrow far from you; For sorrow has destroyed many, And there is no profit therein.
Love your own soul. Most people automatically love themselves.
However, some people do not. It might be due to an abusive parent. They need to learn to love themselves.
VERSE 24. Envy and wrath shorten a man’s days; And care brings old age before the time.
VERSE 25. A cheerful and good heart Will have a care of his meat and diet.
SIRACH
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Chronology
Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.