Sirach 26

¹ Happy the husband of a good wife, twice-lengthened are his days;

² A worthy wife brings joy to her husband, peaceful and full is his life.

³ A good wife is a generous gift bestowed upon him who fears the LORD;

⁴ Be he rich or poor, his heart is content, and a smile is ever on his face.

⁵ There are three things at which my heart quakes, a fourth before which I quail: Though false charges in public, trial before all the people, and lying testimony are harder to bear than death,

⁶ A jealous wife is heartache and mourning and a scourging tongue like the other three.

⁷ A bad wife is a chafing yoke; he who marries her seizes a scorpion.

⁸ A drunken wife arouses great anger, for she does not hide her shame.

⁹ By her eyelids and her haughty stare an unchaste wife can be recognized.

¹⁰ Keep a strict watch over an unruly wife, lest, finding an opportunity, she make use of it;

¹¹ Follow close if her eyes are bold, and be not surprised if she betrays you:

¹² As a thirsty traveler with eager mouth drinks from any water that he finds, So she settles down before every tent peg and opens her quiver for every arrow.

¹³ A gracious wife delights her husband, her thoughtfulness puts flesh on his bones;

¹⁴ A gift from the LORD is her governed speech, and her firm virtue is of surpassing worth.

¹⁵ Choicest of blessings is a modest wife, priceless her chaste person.

¹⁶ Like the sun rising in the LORD'S heavens, the beauty of a virtuous wife is the radiance of her home.

¹⁷ Like the light which shines above the holy lampstand, are her beauty of face and graceful figure.

¹⁸ Golden columns on silver bases are her shapely limbs and steady feet.

¹⁹ These two bring grief to my heart, and the third arouses my horror: A wealthy man reduced to want; illustrious men held in contempt; And the man who passes from justice to sin, for whom the LORD makes ready the sword.

²⁰ A merchant can hardly remain upright, nor a shopkeeper free from sin;