ΣΟΦΙΑ ΣΕΙΡΑΧ - Siracide - Sirach 25

GREEK BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 εν τρισιν ωραισθην και ανεστην ωραια εναντι κυριου και ανθρωπων ομονοια αδελφων και φιλια των πλησιον και γυνη και ανηρ εαυτοις συμπεριφερομενοι	1 My spirit is pleased with three things; these are approved in the sight of God and men:
2 τρια δε ειδη εμισησεν η ψυχη μου και προσωχθισα σφοδρα τη ζωη αυτων πτωχον υπερηφανον και πλουσιον ψευστην γεροντα μοιχον ελαττουμενον συνεσει	2 the harmony of brothers, and the love of neighbors, and a husband and wife agreeing well together.
3 εν νεοτητι ου συναγειοχας και πως αν ευροις εν τω γηρα σου	3 My soul hates three kinds of things; and I am greatly distressed over their souls:
4 ως ωραιον πολιαις κρισις και πρεσβυτεροις επιγνωναι βουλην	4 an arrogant pauper, a wealthy liar, a foolish and senseless elder.
5 ως ωραια γεροντων σοφια και δεδοξασμενοις διανοημα και βουλη	5 The things that you have not obtained in your youth, how will you find them in your old age?
6 στεφανος γεροντων πολυπειρια και το καυχημα αυτων φοβος κυριου	6 How beautiful it is for a grey head to have judgment, and for elders to know counsel!
7 εννεα υπονοηματα εμακαρισα εν καρδια και το δεκατον ερω επι γλωσσης ανθρωπος ευφραινομενος επι τεκνοις ζων και βλεπων επι πτωσει εχθρων	7 How beautiful it is for those who are aged to have wisdom, and for those who are honored to have understanding and counsel!
8 μακαριος ο συνοικων γυναικι συνετη και ος εν γλωσση ουκ ωλισθησεν και ος ουκ εδουλευσεν αναξιω εαυτου	8 Great experience is the crown of the aged, and the fear of God is their glory.
9 μακαριος ος ευρεν φρονησιν και ο διηγουμενος εις ωτα ακουοντων	9 I have magnified nine things, overlooked by the heart; and a tenth, I will declare to men with my tongue:
10 ως μεγας ο ευρων σοφιαν αλλ' ουκ εστιν υπερ τον φοβουμενον τον κυριον	10 a man who finds joy in his children, and one who lives to see the undoing of his enemies.
11 φοβος κυριου υπερ παν υπερεβαλεν ο κρατων αυτου τινι ομοιωθησεται	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.
12 -	12 Blessed is he who finds a true friend, and he who describes justice to an attentive ear.
13 πασαν πληγην και μη πληγην καρδιας και πασαν πονηριαν και μη πονηριαν γυναικος	13 How great is he who finds wisdom and knowledge! But there is no one above him who fears the Lord.
14 πασαν επαγωγην και μη επαγωγην μισουντων και πασαν εκδικησιν και μη εκδικησιν εχθρων	14 The fear of God has set itself above all things.
15 ουκ εστιν κεφαλη υπερ κεφαλην οφεως και ουκ εστιν θυμος υπερ θυμον εχθρου	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?
16 συνοικησαι λεοντι και δρακοντι ευδοκησω η συνοικησαι μετα γυναικος πονηρας	16 The fear of God is the beginning of his love; and the beginning of faith has been joined closely to the same.
17 πονηρια γυναικος αλλοιοι την ορασιν αυτης και σκοτοι το προσωπον αυτης ως αρκος	17 The sadness of the heart is every wound. And the wickedness of a wife is every malice.
18 ανα μεσον των πλησιον αυτου αναπεσειται ο ανηρ αυτης και ακουσιως ανεστεναξεν πικρα	18 And a man will choose any wound, but the wound of the heart,
19 μικρα πασα κακια προς κακιαν γυναικος κληρος αμαρτωλου επιπεσοι αυτη	19 and any wickedness, but the wickedness of a wife,
20 αναβασις αμμωδης εν ποσιν πρεσβυτερου ουτως γυνη γλωσσωδης ανδρι ησυχω	20 and any obstacle, but the obstacle of those who hate him,
21 μη προσπεσης επι καλλος γυναικος και γυναικα μη επιποθησης	21 and any vindication, but the vindication of his enemies.
22 οργη και αναιδεια και αισχυνη μεγαλη γυνη εαν επιχορηγη τω ανδρι αυτης	22 There is no head worse than the head of a serpent,
23 καρδια ταπεινη και προσωπον σκυθρωπον και πληγη καρδιας γυνη πονηρα χειρες παρειμεναι και γονατα παραλελυμενα ητις ου μακαριει τον ανδρα αυτης	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.
24 απο γυναικος αρχη αμαρτιας και δι' αυτην αποθνησκομεν παντες	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,
25 μη δως υδατι διεξοδον μηδε γυναικι πονηρα παρρησιαν	25 her husband groans, and hearing of this, he sighs a little.
26 ει μη πορευεται κατα χειρας σου απο των σαρκων σου αποτεμε αυτην	26 All malice is brief compared to the malice of a wife. Let the fate of sinners fall upon her!
	27 As climbing over sand is to the feet of the aged, so is a talkative wife to a quiet man.
	28 You should not favor a woman’s beauty, and you should not desire a wife for her beauty.
	29 The anger and disrespect and shame from a wife can be great.
	30 The wife, if she has primacy, is set against her husband.
	31 A wicked wife debases the heart, and saddens the face, and wounds the heart.
	32 A wife who does not make her husband happy enfeebles the hands and weakens the knees.
	33 The beginning of sin came from a woman; and through her, we all die.
	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.
	35 If she will not walk at your hand, she will confound you in the sight of your enemies.
	36 Tear her away from your body, lest she abuse you continually.