Sirach 25

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	VULGATA
1 My spirit is pleased with three things; these are approved in the sight of God and men:	1 In tribus placitum est spiritui meo, quæ sunt probata coram Deo et hominibus :
2 the harmony of brothers, and the love of neighbors, and a husband and wife agreeing well together.	2 concordia fratrum, et amor proximorum, et vir et mulier bene sibi consentientes.
3 My soul hates three kinds of things; and I am greatly distressed over their souls:	3 Tres species odivit anima mea, et aggravor valde animæ illorum :
4 an arrogant pauper, a wealthy liar, a foolish and senseless elder.	4 pauperem superbum, divitem mendacem, senem fatuum et insensatum.
5 The things that you have not obtained in your youth, how will you find them in your old age?	5 Quæ in juventute tua non congregasti, quomodo in senectute tua invenies ?
6 How beautiful it is for a grey head to have judgment, and for elders to know counsel!	6 Quam speciosum canitiei judicium, et presbyteris cognoscere consilium !
7 How beautiful it is for those who are aged to have wisdom, and for those who are honored to have understanding and counsel!	7 Quam speciosa veteranis sapientia, et gloriosus intellectus et consilium !
8 Great experience is the crown of the aged, and the fear of God is their glory.	8 Corona senum multa peritia, et gloria illorum timor Dei.
9 I have magnified nine things, overlooked by the heart; and a tenth, I will declare to men with my tongue:	9 Novem insuspicabilia cordis magnificavi : et decimum dicam in lingua hominibus :
10 a man who finds joy in his children, and one who lives to see the undoing of his enemies.	10 homo qui jucundatur in filiis, vivens et videns subversionem inimicorum suorum.
11 Blessed is he who lives with a wise wife, and he who has not slipped with his tongue, and he who has not served those unworthy of himself.	11 Beatus qui habitat cum muliere sensata, et qui lingua sua non est lapsus, et qui non servivit indignis se.
12 Blessed is he who finds a true friend, and he who describes justice to an attentive ear.	12 Beatus qui invenit amicum verum, et qui enarrat justitiam auri audienti.
13 How great is he who finds wisdom and knowledge! But there is no one above him who fears the Lord.	13 Quam magnus qui invenit sapientiam et scientiam ! sed non est super timentem Dominum.
14 The fear of God has set itself above all things.	14 Timor Dei super omnia se superposuit.
15 Blessed is the man to whom it has been given to have the fear of God. He who holds to it, to whom can he be compared?	15 Beatus homo cui donatum est habere timorem Dei : qui tenet illum, cui assimilabitur ?
16 The fear of God is the beginning of his love; and the beginning of faith has been joined closely to the same.	16 Timor Dei initium dilectionis ejus : fidei autem initium agglutinandum est ei.
17 The sadness of the heart is every wound. And the wickedness of a wife is every malice.	17 Omnis plaga tristitia cordis est, et omnis malitia nequitia mulieris.
18 And a man will choose any wound, but the wound of the heart,	18 Et omnem plagam, et non plagam videbit cordis :
19 and any wickedness, but the wickedness of a wife,	19 et omnem nequitiam, et non nequitiam mulieris :
20 and any obstacle, but the obstacle of those who hate him,	20 et omnem obductum, et non obductum odientium :
21 and any vindication, but the vindication of his enemies.	21 et omnem vindictam, et non vindictam inimicorum.
22 There is no head worse than the head of a serpent,	22 Non est caput nequius super caput colubri,
23 and there is no anger above the anger of a wife. It would be more agreeable to abide with a lion or a dragon, than to live with a wicked wife.	23 et non est ira super iram mulieris. Commorari leoni et draconi placebit, quam habitare cum muliere nequam.
24 A wicked wife changes her face. And she darkens her countenance like a bear. And she displays it like sackcloth. In the midst of her neighbors,	24 Nequitia mulieris immutat faciem ejus : et obcæcat vultum suum tamquam ursus, et quasi saccum ostendit. In medio proximorum ejus
25 her husband groans, and hearing of this, he sighs a little.	25 ingemuit vir ejus, et audiens suspiravit modicum.
26 All malice is brief compared to the malice of a wife. Let the fate of sinners fall upon her!	26 Brevis omnis malitia super malitiam mulieris : sors peccatorum cadat super illam.
27 As climbing over sand is to the feet of the aged, so is a talkative wife to a quiet man.	27 Sicut ascensus arenosus in pedibus veterani, sic mulier linguata homini quieto.
28 You should not favor a woman’s beauty, and you should not desire a wife for her beauty.	28 Ne respicias in mulieris speciem, et non concupiscas mulierem in specie.
29 The anger and disrespect and shame from a wife can be great.	29 Mulieris ira, et irreverentia, et confusio magna.
30 The wife, if she has primacy, is set against her husband.	30 Mulier si primatum habeat, contraria est viro suo.
31 A wicked wife debases the heart, and saddens the face, and wounds the heart.	31 Cor humile, et facies tristis, et plaga cordis, mulier nequam.
32 A wife who does not make her husband happy enfeebles the hands and weakens the knees.	32 Manus debiles et genua dissoluta, mulier quæ non beatificat virum suum.
33 The beginning of sin came from a woman; and through her, we all die.	33 A muliere initium factum est peccati, et per illam omnes morimur.
34 You should not provide an exit to your water, not even a little; nor should you give permission for a wicked wife to exceed the limit.	34 Non des aquæ tuæ exitum, nec modicum : nec mulieri nequam veniam prodeundi.
35 If she will not walk at your hand, she will confound you in the sight of your enemies.	35 Si non ambulaverit ad manum tuam, confundet te in conspectu inimicorum.
36 Tear her away from your body, lest she abuse you continually.	36 A carnibus tuis abscinde illam, ne semper te abutatur.