Sirach 25

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 With three things my spirit is pleased, which are approved before God and men:	1 With three things I am delighted, for they are pleasing to the LORD and to men: Harmony among brethren, friendship among neighbors, and the mutual love of husband and wife.
2 The concord of brethren, and the love of neighbours, and mall and wife that agree well together.	2 Three kinds of men I hate; their manner of life I loathe indeed: A proud pauper, a rich dissembler, and an old man lecherous in his dotage.
3 Three sorts my soul hateth, and I am greatly grieved at their life:	3 What you have not saved in your youth, how will you acquire in your old age?
4 A poor man that is proud: a rich man that is a liar: an old man that is a fool, and doting.	4 How becoming to the gray-haired is judgment, and a knowledge of counsel to those on in years!
5 The things that thou hast not gathered in thy youth, how shalt thou find them in thy old age?	5 How becoming to the aged is wisdom, understanding and prudence to the venerable!
6 O how comely is judgment for a grey head, and for ancients to know counsel!	6 The crown of old men is wide experience; their glory, the fear of the LORD.
7 O how comely is wisdom for the aged, and understanding and counsel to men of honour!	7 There are nine who come to my mind as blessed, a tenth whom my tongue proclaims: The man who finds joy in his children, and he who lives to see his enemies' downfall.
8 Much experience is the crown of old men, and the fear of God is their glory.	8 Happy is he who dwells with a sensible wife, and he who plows not like a donkey yoked with an ox. Happy is he who sins not with his tongue, and he who serves not his inferior.
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 Happy is he who finds a friend and he who speaks to attentive ears.
10 A man that hath joy of his children: and he that liveth and seeth the fall of his enemies.	10 He who finds wisdom is great indeed, but not greater than he who fears the LORD.
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 Fear of the LORD surpasses all else. its possessor is beyond compare.
12 Blessed is he that findeth a true friend, and that declareth justice to an ear that heareth.	12 Worst of all wounds is that of the heart, worst of all evils is that of a woman.
13 How great is he that findeth wisdom and knowledge! but there is none above him that feareth the Lord.	13 Worst of all sufferings is that from one's foes, worst of all vengeance is that of one's enemies:
14 The fear of God hath set itself above all things:	14 No poison worse than that of a serpent, no venom greater than that of a woman.
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 With a dragon or a lion I would rather dwell than live with an evil woman.
16 The fear of God is the beginning of his love: and the beginning of faith is to be fast joined unto it.	16 Wickedness changes a woman's looks, and makes her sullen as a female bear.
17 The sadness of the heart is every plague: and the wickedness of a woman is all evil.	17 When her husband sits among his neighbors, a bitter sigh escapes him unawares.
18 And a man will choose any plague, but the plague of the heart:	18 There is scarce any evil like that in a woman; may she fall to the lot of the sinner!
19 And ally wickedness, but the wickedness of a woman:	19 Like a sandy hill to aged feet is a railing wife to a quiet man.
20 And any affliction, but the affliction from them that hate him:	20 Stumble not through woman's beauty, nor be greedy for her wealth;
21 And ally revenge, but the revenge of enemies.	21 The man is a slave, in disgrace and shame, when a wife supports her husband.
22 There is no head worse than the head of a serpent:	22 Depressed mind, saddened face, broken heart--this from an evil wife. Feeble hands and quaking knees-- from a wife who brings no happiness to her husband.
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 In woman was sin's beginning, and because of her we all 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,	24 Allow water no outlet, and be not indulgent to an erring wife.
25 Her husband groaned, and hearing he sighed a little.	25 If she walks not by your side, cut her away from you.
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.