Sirach 25

25Three things hath my soul desired,

And they are lovely in the sight of God and men:

The concord of brethren, and the friendship of neighbours,

And a husband and wife suited to each other.

Three types ⁽of men⁽ doth my soul hate,

And I am greatly offended at their life:

The poor man that is haughty, and the rich man that is deceitful,

And an old man that is an adulterer lacking understanding.

⁽If⁽ in thy youth thou hast not gathered,

How wilt thou find in thine old age?

How beautiful to grey hairs is judgement,

And for elders to know counsel!

How beautiful is the wisdom of princes,

And thought and counsel in those ⁽who are⁽ honoured!

The crown of the aged is their much experience,

And their glorying is the fear of the Lord.

Nine ⁽types of men⁽ have I conceived of; ⁽these⁽ I accounted blessed;

And a tenth will I speak of with my tongue:

A man that hath joy of his children,

Who liveth to see his enemy’s fall.

Blessed is the husband of an understanding wife,

That doth not plough with ox and ass.

Blessed is he that hath not slipped with his tongue,

And he that hath not served one inferior ⁽to himself⁽.

*Blessed is the man that hath found a true friend,

And that discourseth unto ears that hear.

How great is he that findeth wisdom,

But he is not above him that feareth the Lord.

The fear of the Lord surpasseth all things:

He that holdeth it, to whom shall he be likened?

Any wound, only not a heart-wound!

Any wickedness, only not the wickedness of a woman!

^†Any calamity, only not the calamity ⁽brought about⁽ by those who hate!

Any vengeance, only not the vengeance of enemies!

There is no poison above the poison of a serpent,

And there is no wrath above the wrath of a woman.

I would rather dwell with a lion and a dragon,

Than keep house with a wicked woman.

The wickedness of a woman maketh black her look,

And darkeneth her countenance like that of a bear.

In the midst of his friends her husband sitteth,

And involuntarily he sigheth bitterly.

⁽There is but⁽ little malice like the malice of a woman,

May the lot of the wicked fall upon her!

As a sandy ascent to the feet of the aged,

So is a woman of tongue to a quiet man.

Fall not because of the beauty of woman,

And be not ensnared for the sake of what she possesseth;

For hard slavery and a disgrace it is,

⁽If⁽ a wife support her husband.

A humbled heart and a sad countenance,

And a heart-wound, is an evil wife.

Hands that hang down, and palsied knees,

⁽Thus shall it be with⁽ a wife that maketh not happy her husband.

From a woman did sin originate,

And because of her we all must die.

Give not water an outlet,

Nor to a wicked woman power.

If she go not as thou wouldst have her,

Cut her off from thy flesh.