Sirach 25

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
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.	1 My spirit is pleased with three things; these are approved in the sight of God and men:
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.	2 the harmony of brothers, and the love of neighbors, and a husband and wife agreeing well together.
3 What you have not saved in your youth, how will you acquire in your old age?	3 My soul hates three kinds of things; and I am greatly distressed over their souls:
4 How becoming to the gray-haired is judgment, and a knowledge of counsel to those on in years!	4 an arrogant pauper, a wealthy liar, a foolish and senseless elder.
5 How becoming to the aged is wisdom, understanding and prudence to the venerable!	5 The things that you have not obtained in your youth, how will you find them in your old age?
6 The crown of old men is wide experience; their glory, the fear of the LORD.	6 How beautiful it is for a grey head to have judgment, and for elders to know counsel!
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.	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 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.	8 Great experience is the crown of the aged, and the fear of God is their glory.
9 Happy is he who finds a friend and he who speaks to attentive ears.	9 I have magnified nine things, overlooked by the heart; and a tenth, I will declare to men with my tongue:
10 He who finds wisdom is great indeed, but not greater than he who fears the LORD.	10 a man who finds joy in his children, and one who lives to see the undoing of his enemies.
11 Fear of the LORD surpasses all else. its possessor is beyond compare.	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 Worst of all wounds is that of the heart, worst of all evils is that of a woman.	12 Blessed is he who finds a true friend, and he who describes justice to an attentive ear.
13 Worst of all sufferings is that from one's foes, worst of all vengeance is that of one's enemies:	13 How great is he who finds wisdom and knowledge! But there is no one above him who fears the Lord.
14 No poison worse than that of a serpent, no venom greater than that of a woman.	14 The fear of God has set itself above all things.
15 With a dragon or a lion I would rather dwell than live with an evil woman.	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 Wickedness changes a woman's looks, and makes her sullen as a female bear.	16 The fear of God is the beginning of his love; and the beginning of faith has been joined closely to the same.
17 When her husband sits among his neighbors, a bitter sigh escapes him unawares.	17 The sadness of the heart is every wound. And the wickedness of a wife is every malice.
18 There is scarce any evil like that in a woman; may she fall to the lot of the sinner!	18 And a man will choose any wound, but the wound of the heart,
19 Like a sandy hill to aged feet is a railing wife to a quiet man.	19 and any wickedness, but the wickedness of a wife,
20 Stumble not through woman's beauty, nor be greedy for her wealth;	20 and any obstacle, but the obstacle of those who hate him,
21 The man is a slave, in disgrace and shame, when a wife supports her husband.	21 and any vindication, but the vindication of his enemies.
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.	22 There is no head worse than the head of a serpent,
23 In woman was sin's beginning, and because of her we all die.	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 Allow water no outlet, and be not indulgent to an erring wife.	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 If she walks not by your side, cut her away from you.	25 her husband groans, and hearing of this, he sighs a little.
	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.