Chapter 22

1ANpb ye also, fathers,’ teach your children to observe the commandment of the Lord, and to follow the way of Christ and command them to learn a handicraft and not sit idly. Now they will be pufted up in spirit and be far away from doing good. Wherefore train them, and spare not to correct them; for children die not by correction, but rather are saved from condemnation. For it is said, ‘Spare not thy rod from thy son, for the ? hope is good, and when thou beatest him with a rod, thou shalt save his soul from death.”* And moreover it is said, ‘He that correcteth not his son is a fool. Beat thy son and scourge his sides while he is young, lest he become hardened, and go far from thee. And he that teachcth not and * correcteth not his son hateth him.’’® Teach, then, your children, and correct them in® their youth with sharp correction, that they may be humble, and obedient to everyone. Teach them to write, and to read the holy Scriptures, and permit them not to live idly, lest they 7 transgress your commandments. And suffer them not to enter a tavern, lest they forget your admonition,* and be corrupted with fornication. But if their fathers be slothful in teaching and correcting * them, they become partakers in the sin with their children. And when they have come to the full time of youth,’® let (each) marry a wife in pure wedlock, lest the impure desires of youth assault them, and they be sin unto them. And because of this God will require the sin at the hands of their fathers in the day of recompense. ‘Pp adds: admonish and * P from.