Sirach 25

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 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 What you have not saved in your youth, how will you acquire in your old age?

⁴ How becoming to the gray-haired is judgment, and a knowledge of counsel to those on in years!

⁵ How becoming to the aged is wisdom, understanding and prudence to the venerable!

⁶ The crown of old men is wide experience; their glory, the fear of the LORD.

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 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 Happy is he who finds a friend and he who speaks to attentive ears.

¹⁰ He who finds wisdom is great indeed, but not greater than he who fears the LORD.

¹¹ Fear of the LORD surpasses all else. its possessor is beyond compare.

¹² Worst of all wounds is that of the heart, worst of all evils is that 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 No poison worse than that of a serpent, no venom greater than that of a woman.

¹⁵ With a dragon or a lion I would rather dwell than live with an evil woman.

¹⁶ Wickedness changes a woman's looks, and makes her sullen as a female bear.

¹⁷ When her husband sits among his neighbors, a bitter sigh escapes him unawares.

¹⁸ There is scarce any evil like that in a woman; may she fall to the lot of the sinner!

¹⁹ Like a sandy hill to aged feet is a railing wife to a quiet man.

²⁰ Stumble not through woman's beauty, nor be greedy for her wealth;

²¹ The man is a slave, in disgrace and shame, when a wife supports her husband.

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 In woman was sin's beginning, and because of her we all die.

²⁴ Allow water no outlet, and be not indulgent to an erring wife.

²⁵ If she walks not by your side, cut her away from you.