Sirach 26

26A good wife,—blessed is her husband,

The number of his days is doubled.

A worthy wife cherisheth her husband,

And he fulfilleth the years of his life in peace.

A good wife ⁽is⁽ a good gift:

She shall be given to him that feareth God, for his portion.

Whether rich or poor, his heart is cheerful,

And his face is merry at all times.

Of three things is my heart afraid,

And concerning a fourth I am in great fear:

Slander in the city, and a concourse of the rabble,

And a false accusation,—worse than death are they all.

Grief of heart and sorrow is a wife jealous of ⁽another⁽ wife,

The scourge of the tongue all together ^[are they^[.

Likea hard yoke is a wicked woman:

He that taketh hold of her is as one that graspeth a scorpion.

Great wrath ⁽doth⁽ a drunken woman ⁽cause⁽;

She doth not cover her own shame.

The whoredom of a woman is in the lifting up of her eyes,

And she will be known by her eyelids.

Upon a headstrong daughter keep strict watch,

Lest, finding liberty, she use it for herself.

Look well after a shameless eye,

And marvel not if it trespass against thee.

As a thirsty traveller that openeth his mouth,

And drinketh of any water that is near,

So she sitteth down at every post,

And openeth her quiver to every arrow.

The grace of a wife delighteth her husband,

And her understanding fatteneth his bones.

A silent woman ⁽is⁽ a gift from the Lord,

And a well-instructed soulis above worth.

Grace upon grace is a shamefast woman,

And there is no price worthy of a continent soul.

As the sun arising in the highest places of the Lord,

So is the beauty of a good wife in the ordering of his ^[her husband’s^[ house.

As the lamp shining on the holy candlestick,

So is the beauty of a faceon a stately figure.

As the golden pillars upon the silver base,

So are beautiful feet upon firm heels.

My son, keep thyself healthy in the flower of thine age,

And give not thy strength unto strangers.

Having found a portion of good soil out of all the land,

Sow it with thine own seed, trusting in thine own good birth.

Thus will thine offspring flourish,

And, having confidence in their noble descent, will become great.

A hired woman is as spittle,

But a married woman is reckoned as a tower of death to them that use her.

A godless woman shall be given to the man who regardeth not the Law as his portion;

But a devout ⁽woman⁽ is given to him that feareth the Lord.

A shameless woman despiseth shamefastness;

But a shamefast daughter will show modesty even before her husband.

A headstrong woman will be regarded as a dog;

But she that hath shame feareth the Lord.

The woman that honoureth her own husband appeareth wise unto all,

But she that dishonoureth ⁽her husband⁽ is known to all as one that is godless in ⁽her⁽ pride.

Happy is the husband of a good wife,

For the number of his years is doubled.

A loud-voiced and tongueful woman is reckoned as a trumpet that putteth enemies to flight;

And the soul of every suchlike man will pass his life in the turmoils of war.

For two things my heart is grieved,

And for a third cometh wrath upon me:

A man of war suffering on account of poverty,

Men of understanding who suffer contempt,

⁽And⁽ one that turneth from righteousness to sin;—

May the Lord prepare him for the sword.

Hardly shall the merchant keep himself from wrongdoing,

And a huckster will not be acquitted of sin.