Sirach 26

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Happy the husband of a good wife, twice-lengthened are his days;	1 How blessed is the husband of a really good wife; the number of his days will be doubled.
2 A worthy wife brings joy to her husband, peaceful and full is his life.	2 A perfect wife is the joy of her husband, he wil live out the years of his life in peace.
3 A good wife is a generous gift bestowed upon him who fears the LORD;	3 A good wife is the best of portions, reserved for those who fear the Lord;
4 Be he rich or poor, his heart is content, and a smile is ever on his face.	4 rich or poor, their hearts wil be glad, their faces cheerful, whatever the season.
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,	5 There are three things that I dread, and a fourth which terrifies me: slander by a whole town, thegathering of a mob, and a false accusation -- these are al worse than death;
6 A jealous wife is heartache and mourning and a scourging tongue like the other three.	6 but a woman jealous of a woman means heartbreak and sorrow, and al this is the scourge of thetongue.
7 A bad wife is a chafing yoke; he who marries her seizes a scorpion.	7 A bad wife is a badly fitting ox-yoke, trying to master her is like grasping a scorpion.
8 A drunken wife arouses great anger, for she does not hide her shame.	8 A drunken wife wil goad anyone to fury, she cannot conceal her own degradation.
9 By her eyelids and her haughty stare an unchaste wife can be recognized.	9 A woman's wantonness shows in her wide-eyed look, her eyelashes leave no doubt.
10 Keep a strict watch over an unruly wife, lest, finding an opportunity, she make use of it;	10 Keep a headstrong daughter under firm control, or, feeling free, she wil take advantage of it.
11 Follow close if her eyes are bold, and be not surprised if she betrays you:	11 Keep a strict watch on her shameless eye, do not be surprised if she disgraces 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.	12 Like a thirsty travel er she wil open her mouth and drink any water she comes across; she wil sitdown in front of every tent-peg and open her quiver to any arrow.
13 A gracious wife delights her husband, her thoughtfulness puts flesh on his bones;	13 The grace of a wife wil charm her husband, her understanding will make him the stronger.
14 A gift from the LORD is her governed speech, and her firm virtue is of surpassing worth.	14 A silent wife is a gift from the Lord, no price can be put on a well-trained character.
15 Choicest of blessings is a modest wife, priceless her chaste person.	15 A modest wife is a boon twice over, a chaste character cannot be over-valued.
16 Like the sun rising in the LORD'S heavens, the beauty of a virtuous wife is the radiance of her home.	16 Like the sun rising over the mountains of the Lord, such is the beauty of a good wife in a wel -runhouse.
17 Like the light which shines above the holy lampstand, are her beauty of face and graceful figure.	17 Like a lamp shining on the sacred lamp-stand, such is a beautiful face on a wel -proportioned body.
18 Golden columns on silver bases are her shapely limbs and steady feet.	18 Like golden pil ars on a silver base, such are shapely legs on firm-set heels.
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.	19
20 A merchant can hardly remain upright, nor a shopkeeper free from sin;	20
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	28 There are two things which grieve my heart and a third arouses my anger: a warrior wasting awaythrough poverty, the intel igent treated with contempt, someone turning back from virtue to sin -- the Lord marksout such a person for a violent death.
	29 It is difficult for a merchant to avoid doing wrong and for a trader not to incur sin.