Sirach 25

NEW JERUSALEM	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
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 soul takes pleasure in three things, and they are beautiful in the sight of the Lord and of men; agreement between brothers, friendship between neighbors, and a wife and a husband who live in harmony.
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 My soul hates three kinds of men, and I am greatly offended at their life: a beggar who is proud, a rich man who is a liar, and an adulterous old man who lacks good sense.
3 If you have gathered nothing in your youth, how can you discover anything in your old age?	3 You have gathered nothing in your youth; how then can you find anything in your old age?
4 How fine a thing: sound judgement with grey hairs, and for greybeards to know how to advise!	4 What an attractive thing is judgment in gray-haired men, and for the aged to possess good counsel!
5 How fine a thing: wisdom in the aged, and considered advice coming from people of distinction!	5 How attractive is wisdom in the aged, and understanding and counsel in honorable men!
6 The crown of the aged is ripe experience, their glory, the fear of the Lord.	6 Rich experience is the crown of the aged, and their boast is the fear of the Lord.
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 With nine thoughts I have gladdened my heart, and a tenth I shall tell with my tongue: a man rejoicing in his children; a man who lives to see the downfall of his foes;
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 happy is he who lives with an intelligent wife, and he who has not made a slip with his tongue, and he who has not served a man inferior to himself;
9 happy is he who has acquired good sense and can find attentive ears for what he has to say;	9 happy is he who has gained good sense, and he who speaks to attentive listeners.
10 how great is he who has acquired wisdom; but unsurpassed is one who fears the Lord.	10 How great is he who has gained wisdom! But there is no one superior to him who fears the Lord.
11 The fear of the Lord surpasses everything; what can compare with someone who has mastered that?	11 The fear of the Lord surpasses everything; to whom shall be likened the one who holds it fast?
12	12 .
13 Any wound rather than a wound of the heart! Any spite rather than the spite of woman!	13 Any wound, but not a wound of the heart! Any wickedness, but not the wickedness of a wife!
14 Any evil rather than an evil caused by an enemy! Any vengeance rather than the vengeance of a foe!	14 Any attack, but not an attack from those who hate! And any vengeance, but not the vengeance of enemies!
15 There is no poison worse than the poison of a snake, there is no fury worse than the fury of an enemy.	15 There is no venom worse than a snake's venom, and no wrath worse than an enemy's wrath.
16 I would sooner keep house with a lion or a dragon than keep house with a spiteful wife.	16 I would rather dwell with a lion and a dragon than dwell with an evil wife.
17 A woman's spite changes her appearance and makes her face as grim as a bear's.	17 The wickedness of a wife changes her appearance, and darkens her face like that of a bear.
18 When her husband goes out to dinner with his neighbours, he cannot help heaving bitter sighs.	18 Her husband takes his meals among the neighbors, and he cannot help sighing bitterly.
19 No spite can approach the spite of a woman, may a sinner's lot be hers!	19 Any iniquity is insignificant compared to a wife's iniquity; may a sinner's lot befall her!
20 Like the climbing of a sandhill for elderly feet, such is a garrulous wife for a quiet husband.	20 A sandy ascent for the feet of the aged-- such is a garrulous wife for a quiet husband.
21 Do not be taken in by a woman's beauty, never lose your head over a woman.	21 Do not be ensnared by a woman's beauty, and do not desire a woman for her possessions.
22 Bad temper, insolence and shame hold sway where the wife supports the husband.	22 There is wrath and impudence and great disgrace when a wife supports her husband.
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 A dejected mind, a gloomy face, and a wounded heart are caused by an evil wife. Drooping hands and weak knees are caused by the wife who does not make her husband happy.
24 Sin began with a woman, and thanks to her we must al die.	24 From a woman sin had its beginning, and because of her we all die.
25 Do not let water find a leak, nor a spiteful woman give free rein to her tongue.	25 Allow no outlet to water, and no boldness of speech in an evil wife.
26 If she wil not do as you tel her, get rid of her.	26 If she does not go as you direct, separate her from yourself.