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MAN IN HIS FAMILY AND PERSONAL RELATIONS

326. THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARENTS TO
THEIR CHILDREN

Train a child in the way he should go,
When he is old he will not depart from it.

Correct your son, and he will bring you comfort,
And give you exquisite delight.

Better is open rebuke

Than love that is hidden.

A righteous man who lives a blameless life,
Blessed are his children after him!

327. THE DUTIES OF CHILDREN TO PARENTS

My son, hear the instruction of your father,
And forsake not the teaching of your mother;
They shall be a chaplet of beauty for your head,
And a necklace about your neck.

Listen to your father who begat you,

And despise not your mother when she is old.

He who obeys instruction is an intelligent son.

But he who makes friends of profligates brings disgrace on his father.

He who heeds correction has the assurance of life,
But he who disregards reproof is in danger of going astray.
He, who though often reproved, persists in his course,
Shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy.

He who robs father or mother,
Saying, 'There is no wrong in it,'
Is like him who is a destroyer.
He who curses his father or mother,

His lamp shall go out in the blackest of darkness.

A wise son makes a glad father,
But a foolish son despises his mother.
A foolish son is a grief to his father,
And brings bitterness to her who bore him.

Be wise, my son, and make glad my heart,
That I may answer the one who reproaches me.
Let your father be filled with joy,
And let her who bore you rejoice.

328. THE IDEAL WIFE

A continual dripping on a rainy day
And a quarrelsome woman are alike.
He who would restrain her restrains the wind,
And his hand comes in contact with oil.

A good wife is a crown to her husband,

But a shameless one is as rottenness in his bones.
Houses and riches are an inheritance,
But a prudent wife comes from the Lord.

A good wife, who can find?

She is worth far more than corals.

Her husband trusts her completely,

And has no lack of gain.

She does him good and not harm,
All the days of her life.

She procures wool and flax,

And works willingly with her hands.

She is like the ships of the merchant,
She brings her food from afar.
She rises while yet it is night,

And gives out food to her household.

She examines a field and buys it,
With her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She girds herself with might,

And develops strength in her arms.

She perceives that her profit is good;

Her lamp goes not out at night.

She lays her hands on the distaff,
Her hands take hold of the spindle.
She bestows her goods on the poor,
Extends her hand to the needy.

She fears not snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed in scarlet.
Coverlets she makes for herself,

Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Her husband is known in the council,
When he sits among the rulers of the land.
She makes linen cloth and sells it,
Girdles she delivers to the merchant.

Strength and honor are her clothing,
She laughs at the time to come.

What she says is full of wisdom,
And on her tongue is kindly instruction.
She attends to the interests of her household,
Nor eats the bread of idleness.

Her children rise and bless her,

And her husband praises her, saying:

'Many women have done well,

But you excel them all.'

329. FRIENDSHIPS

Many a man professes friendship,

But who can find one who is trustworthy?

There are some friends who are hurtful,

And there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Sincere are the wounds of a friend,

But profuse are the kisses of an enemy.

Oil and perfume rejoice the heart,

So does sweet friendship by sincere counsel.
He who covers up a transgression seeks love,
But he who repeats gossip estranges his friend.

A friend loves at all times,

And a brother is born for adversity.

Walk with the wise and you shall be wise,
But the companions of fools shall have trouble.

Clouds and wind and no rain,—

So the man who boasts of gifts ungiven.

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Refuse not a service to your neighbor
When it is in your power to do it.

Say not to your neighbor, 'Go, and come again,
And to-morrow I will give, when I have it by me.'

The liberal man shall be prospered,

He who waters shall himself be watered.

He sins who despises his neighbor,

He is happy who pities the poor.

MAN IN HIS ECONOMIC RELATIONS

331. THE PENALTY OF LAZINESS AND THE DIGNITY OF LABOR

The appetite of the laborer labors for him,
For his hunger impels him to work.

The sluggard says, 'A lion is outside!
I shall be killed in the streets!'
As the door turns on its hinges,
So the lazy man turns on his bed.
He dips his hand in the dish,

But does not bring it to his mouth!

The lazy man is wiser in his own opinion,

Than seven who can answer intelligently.

The way of the lazy is hedged in with thorns,

But the path of the diligent is a well-built highway. Slack management brings only poverty,

But efficiency makes a man rich.

I went by the field of the lazy man,
By the vineyard of him who lacked sense,
It was all overgrown with thorns,

Its surface was covered with nettles,
And its stone wall was broken down.
Then I beheld and reflected,
I saw and received instruction:
A little sleep, a little slumber,

A little folding of the hands to rest,
And your poverty comes as a robber,
And your want as a well-armed man.

He who gathers in summer acts sensibly,
He who sleeps in harvest behaves disgracefully.

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