Sirach 26

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Happy the husband of a good wife, twice-lengthened are his days;	1 Blessed is the husband of a good wife. For the number of his years is doubled.
2 A worthy wife brings joy to her husband, peaceful and full is his life.	2 A good wife delights her husband, and she will fill up the years of his life with peace.
3 A good wife is a generous gift bestowed upon him who fears the LORD;	3 A good wife is a good portion. She will be given the portion of those who fear God, like a man who has done good deeds.
4 Be he rich or poor, his heart is content, and a smile is ever on his face.	4 But, rich or poor, with a good heart, his countenance will be cheerful at all times.
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 Of three things, my heart has been afraid, and at a fourth, my face has shown dread:
6 A jealous wife is heartache and mourning and a scourging tongue like the other three.	6 an accusation made by a city, and the gathering of a mob,
7 A bad wife is a chafing yoke; he who marries her seizes a scorpion.	7 and a deceitful false accusation. All these are more grievous than death.
8 A drunken wife arouses great anger, for she does not hide her shame.	8 A jealous wife is a grief and a mourning to the heart.
9 By her eyelids and her haughty stare an unchaste wife can be recognized.	9 In a jealous wife, there is a scourge of the tongue, which communicates with everyone.
10 Keep a strict watch over an unruly wife, lest, finding an opportunity, she make use of it;	10 Like a yoke of oxen being provoked, so also is a wicked wife. He who has hold of her is like one who has taken hold of a scorpion.
11 Follow close if her eyes are bold, and be not surprised if she betrays you:	11 An inebriated wife is a great wrath. And her disgrace and indecency will not be covered.
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 The fornication of a wife will become known by the haughtiness of her eyes and by her eyelids.
13 A gracious wife delights her husband, her thoughtfulness puts flesh on his bones;	13 So that her daughter will not also turn away, keep a strict watch; otherwise, having found an opportunity, she may enjoy herself.
14 A gift from the LORD is her governed speech, and her firm virtue is of surpassing worth.	14 Be wary of the irreverence of her eyes, and you should not wonder if she might disregard you.
15 Choicest of blessings is a modest wife, priceless her chaste person.	15 Like a thirsty traveler, she will open her mouth to the fountain, and she will drink from every water nearby, and she will sit down beside every fencepost, and she will open her quiver to every arrow, until she becomes weary.
16 Like the sun rising in the LORD'S heavens, the beauty of a virtuous wife is the radiance of her home.	16 The grace of an attentive wife will delight her husband, and will fatten his bones.
17 Like the light which shines above the holy lampstand, are her beauty of face and graceful figure.	17 Her discipline is a gift from God.
18 Golden columns on silver bases are her shapely limbs and steady feet.	18 Such is an understanding and quiet wife. For there is no substitution for a well-instructed soul.
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 A holy and contrite wife is grace upon grace.
20 A merchant can hardly remain upright, nor a shopkeeper free from sin;	20 And no amount of money is equal to the value of a soul with self-restraint.
	21 Like the sun rising over the world in the high places of God, so the beauty of a good wife is the adornment of her house.
	22 Like a lamp shining atop a holy lampstand, so is the beauty of a face in the mature stage of life.
	23 Like golden pillars upon bases of silver, so are the firm feet of a mature wife upon the soles of her feet.
	24 Like everlasting foundations upon a solid rock, so are the commandments of God in the heart of a holy wife.
	25 By two things, my heart is greatly saddened, and at a third, anger overwhelms me:
	26 a man of war failing because of dire need, and an understanding man treated with contempt,
	27 and anyone who crosses over from justice to sin. God has prepared such a one for the spear.
	28 Two kinds of things have seemed difficult and dangerous to me: a merchant will not be easily freed from his negligence, and a shopkeeper will not be justified by the sins of his lips.