On Nurture
L. On Nurture
1. God provides man with good nurture (i.e. raises them well)
when He grants him good loving,
good understanding and good remembering.
2. Whoever wishes to nurture himself well,
let him shun <the act of> lying
and let him not become separated from God.
3. The nurture of the mind resides
in faithful thoughts,
whence arises the nurture of the body.
4. Good nurture does more for a child
than do <all the> gold or honours
his parents are able to bestow upon him.
5. One should begin to nurture another <person>
by means of love, so that love
may cause him to refrain from doing evil.
6. Whoever is unable to nurture <a person> by means of love,
should do so, if he can, by means of fear,
for fear prevents folly.
7. A man nurtures himself to be faithful
when he considers the most important goods
as well as <the fact that> he is mortal.
8. Whoever accepts punishment on somebody else’s behalf
knows how to conduct himself admirably (lit. “nurture himself very well”),
and is wise and grateful.
9. Whoever wishes to nurture <a person> by means of sermons,
yet does not seek to practise what he preaches,
knows neither how to nurture nor to love himself.
10. Nurture whose origins
lie in hope and faithfulness,
is set upon solid (lit. “good”) foundations.
11. A man who has been very well nurtured
finds good friends everywhere
and has no fear of enemies.