Sirach 25

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
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 My spirit is pleased with three things; these are approved in the sight of 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 harmony of brothers, and the love of neighbors, and a husband and wife agreeing well together.
3 If you have gathered nothing in your youth, how can you discover anything in your old age?	3 My soul hates three kinds of things; and I am greatly distressed over their souls:
4 How fine a thing: sound judgement with grey hairs, and for greybeards to know how to advise!	4 an arrogant pauper, a wealthy liar, a foolish and senseless elder.
5 How fine a thing: wisdom in the aged, and considered advice coming from people of distinction!	5 The things that you have not obtained in your youth, how will you find them in your old age?
6 The crown of the aged is ripe 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 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 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 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 Great experience is the crown of the aged, 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 I have magnified nine things, overlooked by the heart; and a tenth, I will declare 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 who finds joy in his children, and one who lives to see the undoing of his enemies.
11 The fear of the Lord surpasses everything; what can compare with someone who has mastered that?	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	12 Blessed is he who finds a true friend, and he who describes justice to an attentive ear.
13 Any wound rather than a wound of the heart! Any spite rather than the spite of woman!	13 How great is he who finds wisdom and knowledge! But there is no one above him who fears 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 has 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 has been given to have the fear of God. He who holds to it, to whom can he be compared?
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 has been joined closely to the same.
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 wound. And the wickedness of a wife is every malice.
18 When her husband goes out to dinner with his neighbours, he cannot help heaving bitter sighs.	18 And a man will choose any wound, but the wound of the heart,
19 No spite can approach the spite of a woman, may a sinner's lot be hers!	19 and any wickedness, but the wickedness of a wife,
20 Like the climbing of a sandhill for elderly feet, such is a garrulous wife for a quiet husband.	20 and any obstacle, but the obstacle of those who hate him,
21 Do not be taken in by a woman's beauty, never lose your head over a woman.	21 and any vindication, but the vindication of his 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 wife. It would be more agreeable to abide with a lion or a dragon, than to live with a wicked wife.
24 Sin began with a woman, and thanks to her we must al die.	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 Do not let water find a leak, nor a spiteful woman give free rein to her tongue.	25 her husband groans, and hearing of this, he sighs a little.
26 If she wil not do as you tel her, get rid of her.	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.