Sirach 26

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Blessed is the husband of a good wife. For the number of his years is doubled.	1 How blessed is the husband of a really good wife; the number of his days will be doubled.
2 A good wife delights her husband, and she will fill up the years of his life with peace.	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 good portion. She will be given the portion of those who fear God, like a man who has done good deeds.	3 A good wife is the best of portions, reserved for those who fear the Lord;
4 But, rich or poor, with a good heart, his countenance will be cheerful at all times.	4 rich or poor, their hearts wil be glad, their faces cheerful, whatever the season.
5 Of three things, my heart has been afraid, and at a fourth, my face has shown dread:	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 an accusation made by a city, and the gathering of a mob,	6 but a woman jealous of a woman means heartbreak and sorrow, and al this is the scourge of thetongue.
7 and a deceitful false accusation. All these are more grievous than death.	7 A bad wife is a badly fitting ox-yoke, trying to master her is like grasping a scorpion.
8 A jealous wife is a grief and a mourning to the heart.	8 A drunken wife wil goad anyone to fury, she cannot conceal her own degradation.
9 In a jealous wife, there is a scourge of the tongue, which communicates with everyone.	9 A woman's wantonness shows in her wide-eyed look, her eyelashes leave no doubt.
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.	10 Keep a headstrong daughter under firm control, or, feeling free, she wil take advantage of it.
11 An inebriated wife is a great wrath. And her disgrace and indecency will not be covered.	11 Keep a strict watch on her shameless eye, do not be surprised if she disgraces you.
12 The fornication of a wife will become known by the haughtiness of her eyes and by her eyelids.	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 So that her daughter will not also turn away, keep a strict watch; otherwise, having found an opportunity, she may enjoy herself.	13 The grace of a wife wil charm her husband, her understanding will make him the stronger.
14 Be wary of the irreverence of her eyes, and you should not wonder if she might disregard you.	14 A silent wife is a gift from the Lord, no price can be put on a well-trained character.
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.	15 A modest wife is a boon twice over, a chaste character cannot be over-valued.
16 The grace of an attentive wife will delight her husband, and will fatten his bones.	16 Like the sun rising over the mountains of the Lord, such is the beauty of a good wife in a wel -runhouse.
17 Her discipline is a gift from God.	17 Like a lamp shining on the sacred lamp-stand, such is a beautiful face on a wel -proportioned body.
18 Such is an understanding and quiet wife. For there is no substitution for a well-instructed soul.	18 Like golden pil ars on a silver base, such are shapely legs on firm-set heels.
19 A holy and contrite wife is grace upon grace.	19
20 And no amount of money is equal to the value of a soul with self-restraint.	20
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.	21
22 Like a lamp shining atop a holy lampstand, so is the beauty of a face in the mature stage of life.	22
23 Like golden pillars upon bases of silver, so are the firm feet of a mature wife upon the soles of her feet.	23
24 Like everlasting foundations upon a solid rock, so are the commandments of God in the heart of a holy wife.	24
25 By two things, my heart is greatly saddened, and at a third, anger overwhelms me:	25
26 a man of war failing because of dire need, and an understanding man treated with contempt,	26
27 and anyone who crosses over from justice to sin. God has prepared such a one for the spear.	27
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.	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.