XXV. aIn three things I * was beautified,

And stood up gbeautiful both before God and men:

bThe unity of brethren, cthe love of neighbours,

A man and a wife dthat agree together.

2  aThree sorts of men my soul hateth,

And I am greatly offended at their life:

A poor man that is proud, a rich man that is a eliar,

And an old adulterer fthat doateth.

3  If thou hast gathered nothing in thy youth,

How canst thou find any thing in thine age?

4  O how gcomely a thing is judgment for gray hairs,

And for ancient men to know counsel!

5  O how gcomely is the wisdom of old men,

And understanding and counsel to men of honour!

6  Much experience is hthe crown of old men,

And ithe fear of God is their glory.

7  There be anine things which I have judged in mine heart to be happy,

And mthe tenth I will utter with my tongue:

A man that hath joy of his children;

And jhe that liveth to see the fall of his enemy:

8  Well is him that dwelleth with a wife of understanding,

And that hath not kslipped with his tongue,

And that hath not served a man more unworthy than himself:

9  Well is him that hath found * prudence,

And he that speaketh in the ears of them that will hear:

10  lO how great is he that findeth wisdom!

Yet is there none above him that feareth the Lord.

11  mBut the love of the Lord passeth all things for nillumination:

He that holdeth it, * whereto shall he be likened?

12  oThe fear of the Lord is the beginning of his love:

And faith is the beginning of cleaving unto him.

13  Give me any plague, pbut the plague of the heart:

And qany wickedness, but the wickedness of a woman:

14  And any raffliction, but the raffliction from them that hate me:

And any revenge, but the revenge of enemies.

15  There is no head above the shead of a serpent;

And there is no wrath above the wrath of an enemy.

16  tI had rather dwell with a lion and a dragon,

Than to keep house with a wicked woman.

17  The uwickedness of a woman changeth her face,

And darkeneth her countenance * like sackcloth.

18  Her husband shall sit among his neighbours;

And when he heareth it shall sigh bitterly.

19  qAll wickedness is but little to the wickedness of a woman:

Let the portion of a sinner fall upon her.

20  As the climbing up a sandy way is to the feet of the aged,

So is a wife * full of words to a quiet man.

21  vStumble not at the beauty of a woman,

And desire her not for pleasure.

22  A woman, if she maintain her husband,

Is full of anger, impudency, and much reproach.

23  tA wicked woman abateth the courage, maketh a heavy countenance and pa wounded heart:

A woman that will not comfort her husband in distress maketh wweak hands and feeble knees.

24  xOf the woman came the beginning of sin,

And through her we all die.

25  yGive the water no passage;

Neither a wicked woman liberty yto gad abroad.

26  If she go not as thou wouldest have her,

Cut her off from thy flesh,

And zgive her a bill of divorce, and let her go.