Ecclesiasticus 25

VULGATA	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 In tribus placitum est spiritui meo, quæ sunt probata coram Deo et hominibus :	1 My spirit is pleased with three things; these are approved in the sight of God and men:
2 concordia fratrum, et amor proximorum, et vir et mulier bene sibi consentientes.	2 the harmony of brothers, and the love of neighbors, and a husband and wife agreeing well together.
3 Tres species odivit anima mea, et aggravor valde animæ illorum :	3 My soul hates three kinds of things; and I am greatly distressed over their souls:
4 pauperem superbum, divitem mendacem, senem fatuum et insensatum.	4 an arrogant pauper, a wealthy liar, a foolish and senseless elder.
5 Quæ in juventute tua non congregasti, quomodo in senectute tua invenies ?	5 The things that you have not obtained in your youth, how will you find them in your old age?
6 Quam speciosum canitiei judicium, et presbyteris cognoscere consilium !	6 How beautiful it is for a grey head to have judgment, and for elders to know counsel!
7 Quam speciosa veteranis sapientia, et gloriosus intellectus et consilium !	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 Corona senum multa peritia, et gloria illorum timor Dei.	8 Great experience is the crown of the aged, and the fear of God is their glory.
9 Novem insuspicabilia cordis magnificavi : et decimum dicam in lingua hominibus :	9 I have magnified nine things, overlooked by the heart; and a tenth, I will declare to men with my tongue:
10 homo qui jucundatur in filiis, vivens et videns subversionem inimicorum suorum.	10 a man who finds joy in his children, and one who lives to see the undoing of his enemies.
11 Beatus qui habitat cum muliere sensata, et qui lingua sua non est lapsus, et qui non servivit indignis se.	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 Beatus qui invenit amicum verum, et qui enarrat justitiam auri audienti.	12 Blessed is he who finds a true friend, and he who describes justice to an attentive ear.
13 Quam magnus qui invenit sapientiam et scientiam ! sed non est super timentem Dominum.	13 How great is he who finds wisdom and knowledge! But there is no one above him who fears the Lord.
14 Timor Dei super omnia se superposuit.	14 The fear of God has set itself above all things.
15 Beatus homo cui donatum est habere timorem Dei : qui tenet illum, cui assimilabitur ?	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 Timor Dei initium dilectionis ejus : fidei autem initium agglutinandum est ei.	16 The fear of God is the beginning of his love; and the beginning of faith has been joined closely to the same.
17 Omnis plaga tristitia cordis est, et omnis malitia nequitia mulieris.	17 The sadness of the heart is every wound. And the wickedness of a wife is every malice.
18 Et omnem plagam, et non plagam videbit cordis :	18 And a man will choose any wound, but the wound of the heart,
19 et omnem nequitiam, et non nequitiam mulieris :	19 and any wickedness, but the wickedness of a wife,
20 et omnem obductum, et non obductum odientium :	20 and any obstacle, but the obstacle of those who hate him,
21 et omnem vindictam, et non vindictam inimicorum.	21 and any vindication, but the vindication of his enemies.
22 Non est caput nequius super caput colubri,	22 There is no head worse than the head of a serpent,
23 et non est ira super iram mulieris. Commorari leoni et draconi placebit, quam habitare cum muliere nequam.	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 Nequitia mulieris immutat faciem ejus : et obcæcat vultum suum tamquam ursus, et quasi saccum ostendit. In medio proximorum ejus	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 ingemuit vir ejus, et audiens suspiravit modicum.	25 her husband groans, and hearing of this, he sighs a little.
26 Brevis omnis malitia super malitiam mulieris : sors peccatorum cadat super illam.	26 All malice is brief compared to the malice of a wife. Let the fate of sinners fall upon her!
27 Sicut ascensus arenosus in pedibus veterani, sic mulier linguata homini quieto.	27 As climbing over sand is to the feet of the aged, so is a talkative wife to a quiet man.
28 Ne respicias in mulieris speciem, et non concupiscas mulierem in specie.	28 You should not favor a woman’s beauty, and you should not desire a wife for her beauty.
29 Mulieris ira, et irreverentia, et confusio magna.	29 The anger and disrespect and shame from a wife can be great.
30 Mulier si primatum habeat, contraria est viro suo.	30 The wife, if she has primacy, is set against her husband.
31 Cor humile, et facies tristis, et plaga cordis, mulier nequam.	31 A wicked wife debases the heart, and saddens the face, and wounds the heart.
32 Manus debiles et genua dissoluta, mulier quæ non beatificat virum suum.	32 A wife who does not make her husband happy enfeebles the hands and weakens the knees.
33 A muliere initium factum est peccati, et per illam omnes morimur.	33 The beginning of sin came from a woman; and through her, we all die.
34 Non des aquæ tuæ exitum, nec modicum : nec mulieri nequam veniam prodeundi.	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 Si non ambulaverit ad manum tuam, confundet te in conspectu inimicorum.	35 If she will not walk at your hand, she will confound you in the sight of your enemies.
36 A carnibus tuis abscinde illam, ne semper te abutatur.	36 Tear her away from your body, lest she abuse you continually.