Sirach 25

NEW JERUSALEM	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 There are three things my soul delights in, and which are delightful to God and to all people: concordbetween brothers, friendship between neighbours, and a wife and husband who live happily together.	1 With three things my spirit is pleased, which are approved before God and men:
2 There are three sorts of people my soul hates, and whose existence I consider an outrage: the poorswol en with pride, the rich who is a liar and an adulterous old man who has no sense.	2 The concord of brethren, and the love of neighbours, and mall and wife that agree well together.
3 If you have gathered nothing in your youth, how can you discover anything in your old age?	3 Three sorts my soul hateth, and I am greatly grieved at their life:
4 How fine a thing: sound judgement with grey hairs, and for greybeards to know how to advise!	4 A poor man that is proud: a rich man that is a liar: an old man that is a fool, and doting.
5 How fine a thing: wisdom in the aged, and considered advice coming from people of distinction!	5 The things that thou hast not gathered in thy youth, how shalt thou find them in thy old age?
6 The crown of the aged is ripe experience, their glory, the fear of the Lord.	6 O how comely is judgment for a grey head, and for ancients to know counsel!
7 There are nine things I can think of which strike me as happy, and a tenth which is now on my tongue:the man who can be proud of his children, he who lives to see the downfal of his enemies;	7 O how comely is wisdom for the aged, and understanding and counsel to men of honour!
8 happy is he who keeps house with a sensible wife; he who does not toil with ox and donkey; he whohas never sinned with his tongue; he who does not serve a man less worthy than himself;	8 Much experience is the crown of old men, and the fear of God is their glory.
9 happy is he who has acquired good sense and can find attentive ears for what he has to say;	9 Nine things that are not to be imagined by the heart have I magnified, and the tenth I will utter to men with my tongue.
10 how great is he who has acquired wisdom; but unsurpassed is one who fears the Lord.	10 A man that hath joy of his children: and he that liveth and seeth the fall of his enemies.
11 The fear of the Lord surpasses everything; what can compare with someone who has mastered that?	11 Blessed is he. that dwelleth with a wise woman, and that hath not slipped with his tongue, and that hath not served such as are unworthy of him.
12	12 Blessed is he that findeth a true friend, and that declareth justice to an ear that heareth.
13 Any wound rather than a wound of the heart! Any spite rather than the spite of woman!	13 How great is he that findeth wisdom and knowledge! but there is none above him that feareth the Lord.
14 Any evil rather than an evil caused by an enemy! Any vengeance rather than the vengeance of a foe!	14 The fear of God hath set itself above all things:
15 There is no poison worse than the poison of a snake, there is no fury worse than the fury of an enemy.	15 Blessed is the man, to whom it is given to have the fear of God: he that holdeth it, to whom shall he be likened?
16 I would sooner keep house with a lion or a dragon than keep house with a spiteful wife.	16 The fear of God is the beginning of his love: and the beginning of faith is to be fast joined unto it.
17 A woman's spite changes her appearance and makes her face as grim as a bear's.	17 The sadness of the heart is every plague: and the wickedness of a woman is all evil.
18 When her husband goes out to dinner with his neighbours, he cannot help heaving bitter sighs.	18 And a man will choose any plague, but the plague of the heart:
19 No spite can approach the spite of a woman, may a sinner's lot be hers!	19 And ally wickedness, but the wickedness of a woman:
20 Like the climbing of a sandhill for elderly feet, such is a garrulous wife for a quiet husband.	20 And any affliction, but the affliction from them that hate him:
21 Do not be taken in by a woman's beauty, never lose your head over a woman.	21 And ally revenge, but the revenge of enemies.
22 Bad temper, insolence and shame hold sway where the wife supports the husband.	22 There is no head worse than the head of a serpent:
23 Low spirits, gloomy face, stricken heart: such is a spiteful wife. Slack hands and sagging knees: suchis the wife who does not make her husband happy.	23 And there is no anger above the anger of a woman. It will be more agreeable to abide with a lion and a dragon, than to dwell with a wicked woman.
24 Sin began with a woman, and thanks to her we must al die.	24 The wickedness of a woman changeth her face: and she darkeneth her countenance as a bear: and sheweth it like sackcloth. In the midst of her neighbours,
25 Do not let water find a leak, nor a spiteful woman give free rein to her tongue.	25 Her husband groaned, and hearing he sighed a little.
26 If she wil not do as you tel her, get rid of her.	26 All malice is shore to the malice of a woman, let the lot of sinners fall upon her.
	27 As the climbing of a sandy way is to the feet of the aged, so is a wife full of tongue to a quiet man.
	28 Look not upon a woman's beauty, and desire not a woman for beauty.
	29 A woman's anger, and impudence, and confusion is great.
	30 A woman, if she have superiority, is contrary to her husband.
	31 A wicked woman abateth the courage, and maketh a heavy countenance, and a wounded heart.
	32 Feeble hands, and disjointed knees, a woman that doth not make her husband happy.
	33 From the woman came the beginning of sin, and by her we all die.
	34 Give no issue to thy water, no, not a little: nor to a wicked woman liberty to gad abroad.
	35 If she walk not at thy hand, she will confound thee in the sight of thy enemies.
	36 Cut her off from thy flesh, lest she always abuse thee.