Sirach 25

DOUAI-RHEIMS	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 With three things my spirit is pleased, which are approved before God and men:	1 My spirit is pleased with three things; these are approved in the sight of God and men:
2 The concord of brethren, and the love of neighbours, and mall and wife that agree well together.	2 the harmony of brothers, and the love of neighbors, and a husband and wife agreeing well together.
3 Three sorts my soul hateth, and I am greatly grieved at their life:	3 My soul hates three kinds of things; and I am greatly distressed over their souls:
4 A poor man that is proud: a rich man that is a liar: an old man that is a fool, and doting.	4 an arrogant pauper, a wealthy liar, a foolish and senseless elder.
5 The things that thou hast not gathered in thy youth, how shalt thou find them in thy old age?	5 The things that you have not obtained in your youth, how will you find them in your old age?
6 O how comely is judgment for a grey head, and for ancients to know counsel!	6 How beautiful it is for a grey head to have judgment, and for elders to know counsel!
7 O how comely is wisdom for the aged, and understanding and counsel to men of honour!	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 Much experience is the crown of old men, and the fear of God is their glory.	8 Great experience is the crown of the aged, and the fear of God is their glory.
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.	9 I have magnified nine things, overlooked by the heart; and a tenth, I will declare to men with my tongue:
10 A man that hath joy of his children: and he that liveth and seeth the fall of his enemies.	10 a man who finds joy in his children, and one who lives to see the undoing of his enemies.
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.	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 Blessed is he that findeth a true friend, and that declareth justice to an ear that heareth.	12 Blessed is he who finds a true friend, and he who describes justice to an attentive ear.
13 How great is he that findeth wisdom and knowledge! but there is none above him that feareth the Lord.	13 How great is he who finds wisdom and knowledge! But there is no one above him who fears the Lord.
14 The fear of God hath set itself above all things:	14 The fear of God has set itself above all things.
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?	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 The fear of God is the beginning of his love: and the beginning of faith is to be fast joined unto it.	16 The fear of God is the beginning of his love; and the beginning of faith has been joined closely to the same.
17 The sadness of the heart is every plague: and the wickedness of a woman is all evil.	17 The sadness of the heart is every wound. And the wickedness of a wife is every malice.
18 And a man will choose any plague, but the plague of the heart:	18 And a man will choose any wound, but the wound of the heart,
19 And ally wickedness, but the wickedness of a woman:	19 and any wickedness, but the wickedness of a wife,
20 And any affliction, but the affliction from them that hate him:	20 and any obstacle, but the obstacle of those who hate him,
21 And ally revenge, but the revenge of enemies.	21 and any vindication, but the vindication of his enemies.
22 There is no head worse than the head of a serpent:	22 There is no head worse than the head of a serpent,
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.	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 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,	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 Her husband groaned, and hearing he sighed a little.	25 her husband groans, and hearing of this, he sighs a little.
26 All malice is shore to the malice of a woman, let the lot of sinners fall upon her.	26 All malice is brief compared to the malice of a wife. Let the fate 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.	27 As climbing over sand is to the feet of the aged, so is a talkative wife to a quiet man.
28 Look not upon a woman's beauty, and desire not a woman for beauty.	28 You should not favor a woman’s beauty, and you should not desire a wife for her beauty.
29 A woman's anger, and impudence, and confusion is great.	29 The anger and disrespect and shame from a wife can be great.
30 A woman, if she have superiority, is contrary to her husband.	30 The wife, if she has primacy, is set against her husband.
31 A wicked woman abateth the courage, and maketh a heavy countenance, and a wounded heart.	31 A wicked wife debases the heart, and saddens the face, and wounds the heart.
32 Feeble hands, and disjointed knees, a woman that doth not make her husband happy.	32 A wife who does not make her husband happy enfeebles the hands and weakens the knees.
33 From the woman came the beginning of sin, and by her we all die.	33 The beginning of sin came from a woman; and through her, we all die.
34 Give no issue to thy water, no, not a little: nor to a wicked woman liberty to gad abroad.	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 walk not at thy hand, she will confound thee in the sight of thy enemies.	35 If she will not walk at your hand, she will confound you in the sight of your enemies.
36 Cut her off from thy flesh, lest she always abuse thee.	36 Tear her away from your body, lest she abuse you continually.