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This itself is a reward, to give joy to the father. It is necessary for children to yield to their fathers; but where the word concerning truth enters in, let God 96.293 be honored, and may His things prevail, and the power of natural affection. To return equal thanks to parents is among the impossible things; for it is not possible to beget them in return. Honor your parents. For this is a divine and natural law. Blessed is he who makes his parents glad, just as the tilled land makes glad those who labored for the multiplication of what was sown. To obey fathers is dear to God. TITLE 23. —Concerning patricides, and matricides, and all the evils that follow those who dishonor and disobey their own parents. “Whoever strikes his father, or his mother, let him be put to death. He who speaks evil of his father, or his mother, let him be put to death.” “A man who curses his father, or his mother, shall be put to death. Having spoken evil of his father and his mother, he is guilty.” “If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son, who will not obey the voice of his mother, and they have disciplined him, and he will not listen to them, then his father and his mother shall take hold of him, and bring him out to the elders of their city, saying: This our son is stubborn and rebellious, and does not obey our voice. And the men of his city shall stone him with stones, and he shall die.” “Cursed is he who dishonors his father; and all the people shall say, So be it, so be it.” “A disobedient son will be in destruction.” “He who dishonors his father and drives away his mother will be put to shame and be a reproach.” “For one who speaks evil of father and mother, his lamp shall be put out, and the pupils of his eyes shall see darkness.” “The eye that mocks a father, and dishonors the old age of a mother, may the ravens of the valleys pick it out, and the young of the eagles eat it.” Whoever casts off father or mother, and thinks he does not sin, he is a companion of an impious man.” Like a blasphemer is he who forsakes his father, and cursed by the Lord is he who provokes his mother. Do not glory in the dishonor of your father. For the glory of men is from the honor of their father.” It is a pitiful thing to bring forth thorns instead of good fruit, and to bear griefs instead of good hopes; 96.296 that is, to return insult and dishonor to parents instead of glory and honor, and to appropriate the prophet's voice that says: I waited for my vineyard to produce grapes, but it produced thorns.

TITLE 24. —Concerning parents disciplining and correcting their own children. For if they do not do this, they become liable for their sins. “Eli

was very old, and he heard what his sons were doing with the women who were standing by the doors of the tent of testimony, and he did not admonish them. And the Lord said: Did I not thus swear to the house of Eli, if the iniquities of the house of Eli will be atoned for with incense and sacrifices for ever?” “Discipline your son, and he will give you rest, and will give adornment to your soul.” “He who spares the rod hates his son; but he who loves, diligently disciplines.” “Do not withhold discipline from a child, for if you strike him with a rod, he will not die. For you will strike him with a rod, but you will deliver his soul from death.” “Stripes and reproof give wisdom.” “A just father who disciplines raises well; and his soul rejoices in a wise one.” “Discipline your son; for in this way there is good hope.” “Do you have children? Discipline them, and bend their neck from their youth.” “Whips and discipline, at all times are wisdom.” “Discipline your son, and work on him, so that you may not stumble on his shamelessness.” “He who loves his son will apply scourges to him.” “He who teaches his son will make the enemy jealous, and in the presence of friends will rejoice over him.” “An untamed horse turns out stubborn, and a son left to himself turns out headstrong. Pamper a child, and he will terrify you. Do not laugh with him, so that you may not grieve with him. Do not give to him

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Τοῦτο αὐτὸ μισθὸς, τῷ πατρὶ χαρίζεσθαι. Εἴκειν ἀναγκαῖον πατράσι τοὺς παῖδας· ἀλλ' ἔνθαπερ ὁ περὶ τῆς ἀληθείας εἰσελαύνει λόγος, τιμάσθω 96.293 Θεὸς, καὶ νικάτω τὰ αὐτοῦ, καὶ φιλοστοργίας δύναμιν φυσικήν. Τοῖς γονεῦσιν ἴσας ἀποδοῦναι χάριτας, τῶν ἀδυνάτων· ἀντιγεννῆσαι γὰρ οὐχ οἷόν τε. Γονέας τίμα. Οὗτος γὰρ νόμος θεῖος καὶ φυσικός. Εὐδαίμων ὅστις τοκέας εὐφραίνει, καθάπερ ἄρουρα τοὺς μοχθήσαντας ἐπὶ τῷ πολυπλασιασμῷ τῶν καταβληθέντων. Πείθεσθαι πατράσι θεοφιλές. ΤΙΤΛ. ΚΓʹ. -Περὶ πατραλοίων, καὶ μητραλοίων, καὶ ὅσα ἕψεται κακὰ τοῖς ἀτιμάζουσι, καὶ ἀπειθοῦσι τοῖς ἑαυτῶν γονεῦσιν. «Ὃς τύπτει πατέρα αὐτοῦ, ἢ μητέρα αὐτοῦ, θανάτῳ θανατούσθω. Ὁ κακολογῶν πατέρα αὐτοῦ, ἢ μητέρα αὐτοῦ, θανατούσθω.» «Ἄνθρωπος ὃς ἐὰν κακώσῃ τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ, ἢ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ, θανάτῳ θανατούσθω. Πατέρα αὐτοῦ, καὶ μητέρα αὐτοῦ κακῶς εἰπὼν, ἔνοχός ἐστιν.» «Ἐὰν ᾖ τινι υἱὸς ἀπειθὴς καὶ ἐρεθιστὴς, οὐχ ὑπακούων φωνὴν μητρὸς αὐτοῦ, καὶ παιδεύσωσιν αὐτὸν, καὶ μὴ εἰσακούσῃ αὐτὸν, καὶ συλλαβόντες αὐτὸν ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ, ἄξουσιν αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τῆς γερουσίας τῆς πόλεως αὐτῶν, λέγοντες· Ὁ υἱὸς ἡμῶν οὗτος ἀπειθής ἐστιν, καὶ ἐρεθίζει, καὶ οὐκ ἀκούει τῆς φωνῆς ἡμῶν. Καὶ λιθοβουλήσουσιν αὐτὸν οἱ ἄνδρες τῆς πόλεως αὐτοῦ ἐν λίθοις, καὶ ἀποθανεῖται.» «Ἐπικατάρατος ὁ ἀτιμάζων πατέρα αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἐρεῖ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς, Γένοιτο, γένοιτο.» «Υἱὸς ἀνήκοος ἐν ἀπωλείᾳ ἔσται.» «Ὁ ἀτιμάζων πατέρα, καὶ ἀπωθούμενος μητέρα αὐτοῦ, καταισχυνθήσεται, καὶ ἐπονείδιστος ἔσται.» «Κακολογοῦντος πατέρα καὶ μητέρα, σβεσθήσεται λαμπτὴρ, αἱ δὲ κόραι ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτοῦ ὄψονται σκότος.» «Ὀφθαλμὸν καταγελῶντα πατέρα, καὶ ἀτιμάζοντα γῆρας μητρὸς, ἐκκόψειαν αὐτὸν κόρακες ἐκ τῶν φαράγγων, καὶ καταφάγοισαν αὐτὸν νεοσσοὶ ἀετῶν.» Ὃς ἀποβάλλεται πατέρα ἢ μητέρα, καὶ δοκεῖ μὴ ἁμαρτάνειν, οὗτος κοινωνός ἐστιν ἀνδρὸς ἀσεβοῦς.» Ὡς βλάσφημος ὁ ἐγκαταλείπων πατέρα αὐτοῦ, καὶ κατηραμένος ὑπὸ Κυρίου, ὁ παροργίζων μητέρα αὐτοῦ. Μὴ δοξάζου ἐν ἀτιμίᾳ πατρός σου. Ἡ γὰρ δόξα ἀνθρώπων, ἐκ τιμῆς πατρὸς αὐτῶν.» Ἐλεεινὸν ἀντὶ εὐκαρπίας τελεσφορεῖν ἀκάνθας, καὶ ἀντὶ ἀγαθῶν ἐλπίδων ἀποκύειν λύπας· 96.296 τουτέστιν ἀντὶ δόξης καὶ τίμης ὕβριν καὶ ἀτιμίαν γονεῦσιν ἀποδοῦναι, καὶ τὴν τοῦ προφήτου σφετερίζεσθαι φωνὴν τὴν λέγουσαν. Ἔμεινα τῷ ἀμπελῶνί μου τοῦ ποιῆσαι σταφυλὴν, ἐποίησεν δὲ ἀκάνθας.

ΤΙΤΛ. Κ∆ʹ. -Περὶ τοῦ παιδεύειν τοὺς γονεῖς τὰ ἴδια τέκνα, καὶ σωφρονίζειν. Εἰ γὰρ τοῦτο μὴ πράξωσιν, ταῖς ἐκείνων ἔνοχοι γίνονται ἁμαρτίαις. «Ἡλὶ

πρεσβύτης σφόδρα, καὶ ἤκουσεν ἃ ἐποίουν υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ μετὰ τῶν γυναικῶν τῶν παρεστηκυιῶν παρὰ τὰς θύρας τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου, καὶ οὐκ ἐνουθέτει αὐτούς. Καὶ εἶπε Κύριος· Οὐχ οὕτως ὤμοσα τῷ οἴκῳ Ἡλὶ, εἰ ἐξιλασθήσεται ἀδίκια οἴκου Ἡλὶ ἐν θυμιάμασι καὶ ἐν θυσίαις αἰῶνος;» «Παίδευε υἱὸν, καὶ ἀναπαύσει σε, καὶ δώσει κόσμον τῇ ψυχῇ σου.» «Ὃς φείδεται τῆς βακτηρίας, μισεῖ τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ· ὁ δὲ ἀγαπῶν, ἐπιμελῶς παιδεύει.» «Μὴ ἀπόσχῃ νήπιον παιδεύειν, ὅτι ἐὰν πατάξῃς αὐτὸν ῥάβδῳ, οὐ μὴ ἀποθανεῖται. Σὺ μὲν γὰρ πατάξεις αὐτὸν ῥάβδῳ, τὴν δὲ ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἐκ θανάτου ῥύση.» «Πληγαὶ καὶ ἔλεγχος διδόασι σοφίαν.» «Καλῶς ἐκτρέφει πατὴρ δίκαιος παιδεύων· ἐν δὲ σοφῷ εὐφραίνεται ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ.» «Παίδευε υἱόν σου· οὕτως γάρ ἐστιν εὔελπις.» «Τέκνα σοί ἐστιν; παίδευσον αὐτὰ, καὶ κάμψον ἐκ νεότητος τὸν τράχηλον αὐτῶν.» «Μάστιγες καὶ παιδεία, ἐν παντὶ καιρῷ σοφία.» «Παίδευσον τὸν υἱόν σου, καὶ ἔργασαι ἐν αὐτῷ, ἵνα μὴ ἐν τῇ ἀσχημοσύνῃ αὐτοῦ προκόψῃς.» «Ὁ ἀγαπῶν τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ, ἐνδελεχίσει μάστιγας αὐτῷ.» «Ὁ διδάσκων τὸν υἱὸν διαζηλώσει τὸν ἐχθρὸν, καὶ ἔναντι φίλων ἐπ' αὐτῷ ἀγαλλιάσεται.» «Ἵππος ἀδάμαστος ἐκβαίνει σκληρὸς, καὶ υἱὸς ἀνείμενος ἐκβαίνει προαλής. Τιθήνισον τέκνον, καὶ ἐκθαμβήσει σε. Μὴ συγγελάσῃς αὐτῷ, ἵνα μὴ συνοδυνηθῇς. Μὴ δὸς αὐτῷ