Sirach 25

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 In three things I was beautified, and stood up beautiful both before God and men: the unity of brethren, the love of neighbours, a man and a wife that agree together.	1 With three things I am delighted, for they are pleasing to the LORD and to men: Harmony among brethren, friendship among neighbors, and the mutual love of husband and wife.
2 Three 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 liar, and an old adulterer that doateth.	2 Three kinds of men I hate; their manner of life I loathe indeed: A proud pauper, a rich dissembler, and an old man lecherous in his dotage.
3 If thou hast gathered nothing in thy youth, how canst thou find any thing in thine age?	3 What you have not saved in your youth, how will you acquire in your old age?
4 O how comely a thing is judgment for gray hairs, and for ancient men to know counsel!	4 How becoming to the gray-haired is judgment, and a knowledge of counsel to those on in years!
5 O how comely is the wisdom of old men, and understanding and counsel to men of honour.	5 How becoming to the aged is wisdom, understanding and prudence to the venerable!
6 Much experience is the crown of old men, and the fear of God is their glory.	6 The crown of old men is wide experience; their glory, the fear of the LORD.
7 There be nine things which I have judged in mine heart to be happy, and the tenth I will utter with my tongue: A man that hath joy of his children; and he that liveth to see the fall of his enemy:	7 There are nine who come to my mind as blessed, a tenth whom my tongue proclaims: The man who finds joy in his children, and he who lives to see his enemies' downfall.
8 Well is him that dwelleth with a wife of understanding, and that hath not slipped with his tongue, and that hath not served a man more unworthy than himself:	8 Happy is he who dwells with a sensible wife, and he who plows not like a donkey yoked with an ox. Happy is he who sins not with his tongue, and he who serves not his inferior.
9 Well is him that hath found prudence, and he that speaketh in the ears of them that will hear:	9 Happy is he who finds a friend and he who speaks to attentive ears.
10 O how great is he that findeth wisdom! yet is there none above him that feareth the Lord.	10 He who finds wisdom is great indeed, but not greater than he who fears the LORD.
11 But the love of the Lord passeth all things for illumination: he that holdeth it, whereto shall he be likened?	11 Fear of the LORD surpasses all else. its possessor is beyond compare.
12 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of his love: and faith is the beginning of cleaving unto him.	12 Worst of all wounds is that of the heart, worst of all evils is that of a woman.
13 [Give me] any plague, but the plague of the heart: and any wickedness, but the wickedness of a woman:	13 Worst of all sufferings is that from one's foes, worst of all vengeance is that of one's enemies:
14 And any affliction, but the affliction from them that hate me: and any revenge, but the revenge of enemies.	14 No poison worse than that of a serpent, no venom greater than that of a woman.
15 There is no head above the head of a serpent; and there is no wrath above the wrath of an enemy.	15 With a dragon or a lion I would rather dwell than live with an evil woman.
16 I had rather dwell with a lion and a dragon, than to keep house with a wicked woman.	16 Wickedness changes a woman's looks, and makes her sullen as a female bear.
17 The wickedness of a woman changeth her face, and darkeneth her countenance like sackcloth.	17 When her husband sits among his neighbors, a bitter sigh escapes him unawares.
18 Her husband shall sit among his neighbours; and when he heareth it shall sigh bitterly.	18 There is scarce any evil like that in a woman; may she fall to the lot of the sinner!
19 All wickedness is but little to the wickedness of a woman: let the portion of a sinner fall upon her.	19 Like a sandy hill to aged feet is a railing wife to a quiet man.
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.	20 Stumble not through woman's beauty, nor be greedy for her wealth;
21 Stumble not at the beauty of a woman, and desire her not for pleasure.	21 The man is a slave, in disgrace and shame, when a wife supports her husband.
22 A woman, if she maintain her husband, is full of anger, impudence, and much reproach.	22 Depressed mind, saddened face, broken heart--this from an evil wife. Feeble hands and quaking knees-- from a wife who brings no happiness to her husband.
23 A wicked woman abateth the courage, maketh an heavy countenance and a wounded heart: a woman that will not comfort her husband in distress maketh weak hands and feeble knees.	23 In woman was sin's beginning, and because of her we all die.
24 Of the woman came the beginning of sin, and through her we all die.	24 Allow water no outlet, and be not indulgent to an erring wife.
25 Give the water no passage; neither a wicked woman liberty to gad abroad.	25 If she walks not by your side, cut her away from you.
26 If she go not as thou wouldest have her, cut her off from thy flesh, and give her a bill of divorce, and let her go.