VIII. A FATHER'S INSTRUCTION.
Thus an experienced father, wise of heart,
old in manly virtues, taught his dear son,
with sagacious words, that he might grow up goodly:—
'Do always what is worthy; if thy works be worthy, 4
God will ever be thy patron and support
in each good thing, but a foe unto any other
worse of works. Accustom thyself to the better!
Practise this zealously as long as ever thou livest! 8
Father and mother love thou with all thy heart,
and each of thy kindred, if the Lord be held in love by them.
Be thou to thy parents ever dutiful,
fair of speech, and let thy teachers 12
be dear to thee in thy heart and soul,
who most diligently confirm thee in goodness.'
The wise father addressed his son again,
a second time:—'Observe steadfastly this: 16
neither do thou commit evil, nor approve thou ever
wickedness in thy friend or kinsman, lest the Creator accuse thee,
that thou art accessory to the crime: He will requite thee with punishment,
as He rewardeth the others with joyous bliss.' 20
A third time the man, so wise of thought,
instructed his child with his bosom's thoughts: —
'Associate not, throughout life, with anyone
of worse counsels, but take to thyself always 24
as thy counsellor one prudent in discourse
and in doctrine; as regards his power, be it as it may.'
A fourth time the father again instructed
his beloved child, that he should remember this:—28
'Deceive not thy familiar friend, but always protect him
right fittingly! Strive zealously for this,
that thou be never treacherous to thy friend! '
A fifth time the father then began 32
with his breast's thoughts to teach his child:—
'Guard thyself from drunkenness and foolish words,
from evil in thy heart, and from lying in thy mouth,
from anger and envy, and from woman's love; 36
for he must often wander forth abased in mind,
who yieldeth to the love of woman,
to a strange damsel's love; thence is always expectation of sin,
and loathly shame, long enmity with God, 40
excessive vaunt. Be thou ever wise of speech,
wary 'gainst lust, a guardian of thy words!'
A sixth time the dear father again began,
through kind thought, to teach his son:—44
'Distinguish carefully what is good or evil,
and separate them ever, with clear discernment,
in thy mind, and aye choose for thyself the better thing:
it shall aye be allotted thee. If thy spirit be good, 48
if wisdom dwell therein, and thus thou knowest well
the sense of evil, withstand it boldly!
Cherish thou constantly goodness in thy soul!'
A seventh time the father, the wise man, 52
instructed his son; much said he to the youth:—
'Seldom is a wise man's rejoicing free from care;
e'en as seldom is a fool's revelry troubled with care
concerning the future, unless he experience adversity. 56
Cautious of speech, a prudent mortal
must ponder in his breast, not loud with noise.'
An eighth time the old father began
to admonish thus his son in kindly words:—60
'Learn thou such lore, as is fitting to be learnt;
accustom thyself to wisdom; the Creator of hosts
have thou as thy hope, and the memory of saints;
and truth ever be thy triumph, when thou aught sayest.' 64
A ninth time spake the aged man,
the ancient sage; said he many things unto his offspring:—
'There are not now many folk, who fain observe
the writings of old, but their minds grow corrupt, 68
their ardour cooleth, discipline cometh to nought;
they reck not thereof a whit, though they commit guilt
against the Lord's command; many a one shall pay
with their soul's torment; but do thou let thy heart ever observe 72
the writings of old, and the Lord's decrees,
which here, in every tribe, men suffer
to decline, more than is right for them.
A tenth time, full of grievous cares, 76
the old man again began to teach his son:—
'He useth wisdom, who, for his soul's sake,
guardeth himself in his heart ever
from sins of word and deed, and promoteth truth; 80
to him each gift shall be increased by God,
he shall abound in might, when he fleeth from vice.
Let not anger, the abyss of fierce words,
surging within thy breast, ever overpower thee, 84
defile thee with its welling waves; but a man must guard himself therefrom
in his courageous soul, if he be wise
and temperate, of mind sagacious,
prudent in thoughts, and desirous of wisdom: 88
so may he gain happiness throughout the ages.
Be not too prone to blame, nor too equivocal,
nor admit unto thy mind men too worthless;
but be thou lovable, and blithe of soul; 92
so bear thou thy heart, that thou, my son, remember
thy father's prudent teaching, and hold thee ever against sin!'