Daughters and Fathers

(Sir 7:24–25; 26:10–12)

9 A daughter is a secret anxiety to her father,

and worry over her robs him of sleep;

when she is young, for fear she may not marry,

or if married, for fear she may be disliked;

10 while a virgin, for fear she may be seduced

and become pregnant in her father’s house;

or having a husband, for fear she may go astray,

or, though married, for fear she may be barren.

11 Keep strict watch over a headstrong daughter,

or she may make you a laughingstock to your enemies,

a byword in the city and the assembly ofa the people,

and put you to shame in public gatherings.b

See that there is no lattice in her room,

no spot that overlooks the approaches to the house.c

12 Do not let her parade her beauty before any man,

or spend her time among married women;d

13 for from garments comes the moth,

and from a woman comes woman’s wickedness.

14 Better is the wickedness of a man than a woman who does good;

it is woman who brings shame and disgrace.