Precepts

Thus a wise father
his dear son instructed,
a man wise of mind,
a parent old in excellencies,
in words sagacious,
so that he was much rever'd :
‘Do ever what is virtuous ;
if thy deeds be virtuous,
God to thee will ever be,
in every good,
a patron and support ;
a foe to others
of worse deeds,
accustom thyself to the better
perform boldly this,
ever while thou livest.
Father and mother
love thou with heart,
of thy kindred every one,
if to them the Lord be dear.
Be thou to thy parents
ever dutiful,
fair in word ;
and in thy soul let
thy teachers,
in thy mind, be dear,
who thee most diligently
confirm in good.’
The father again his son,
wise, address'd
a second time :
‘Observe steadfastly this :
never in foe,
never in friend,
nor in thy kinsman,
wickedness approve,
lest thy Creator thee accuse,
that thou art cognizant of crime ;
he with punishment will requite thee,
as he does others
with felicity.’
A third time,
a man wise in thought,
from his mind's cogitations,
his child instructed :
‘Hold not converse with a worse,
throughout life,
for any possessions ;
but thou take to thee one
for counsellor always
in discourses and doctrines
sagacious ;
be it as to power as it may.’
A fourth time,
a father again instructed
his beloved child,
that he this should mind :
‘Deceive not a particular friend,
but ever constantly regard him
with right observances :
perform duly this,
that thou be never treacherous
to thy friend.’
A fifth time,
a father again began,
from his bosom-thoughts,
his child to teach :
‘From drunkenness guard thyself,
and foolish words,
crime in thy heart,
and in thy mouth falsehood,
anger and envy,
and from woman's love ;
because abased in mind shall
often go,
he who yields
to love of woman,
of a strange damsel :
there is ever thought of sins,
of loathly shame,
long enmity with God,
excessive vaunt.
Be thou ever wise of speech,
guard, even against its will,
thy tongue.’
A sixth time
a dear father again began,
through kind thought,
his son to teach :
‘Perceive carefully
what is good or evil,
and them distinguish ever,
with sharp understanding,
in thy mind,
and for thee the better ever choose,
it shall ever be allotted thee.
If thy spirit be good,
if wisdom therein dwell,
and thou well know
the sense of evil,
withstand it boldly ;
cherish thou ever
good in thy soul.’
A seventh time
his son instructed
a father, a wise man,
said much to the youth :
‘Seldom a wise man
secure exults,
like as a fool seldom
rejoices sorrowful
about his future state.
Unless he decide a quarrel,
a man his words shall,
a sagacious mortal,
in his breast meditate,
not with noise aloud.’
An eighth time
an old father began
his son to admonish,
in kind words :
‘Learn lore,
teach what is fitting,
accustom thyself to wisdom,
the Creator of hosts
have to thee for hope.
the memory of saints,
and truth ever tell,
when thou aught sayest.’
A ninth time
the ancient one address'd,
the old sage
said, to his offspring much :
‘There are not now many folks,
who the writings of old times
will hold,
but their minds corrupt,
their ardour cools,
discipline is neglected,
they care not aught for it,
though they crime commit
against the Lord's command ;
many a one shall pay with
torment of soul :
but let thy mind observe
the scriptures of old times,
and the Lord's decrees,
which here in the country everywhere
men suffer
to decline, more
than for themselves is right.’
A tenth time,
full of anxious cares,
the old man again began
his son to teach :
‘He wisdom uses,
who, for his soul's love,
guards himself from sins
of words and deeds,
in his mind ever,
and truth promotes ;
to him each gift shall be
increas'd by God
in powers abounding,
when he flees from sin.
Let not anger thee
ever overpower,
high in thy breast,
of hostile words the ground,
with its heat defile thee ;
but guard himself therefrom,
in his courageous soul,
shall a man wise
and temperate,
of mind sagacious,
prudent in thoughts,
desirous of wisdom ;
so that against age he may
of happiness partake.
Be thou not too prone to blame,
nor too double-tongued,
nor let into thy mind
men too profligate ;
but be amiable,
light in thy thoughts ;
bare thy breasts' recess :
so thou, my son, remember
wise paternal lore,
and thyself ever against sins preserve.’