Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 25
25
1WITH three things my spirit is pleased, which are approved before God and men:
2The concord of brethren, and the love of neighbours, and mall and wife that agree well together.
3Three sorts my soul hateth, and I am greatly grieved at their life:
4A poor man that is proud: a rich man that is a liar: an old man that is a fool, and doting.
5The things that thou hast not gathered in thy youth, how shalt thou find them in thy old age?
6O how comely is judgment for a grey head, and for ancients to know counsel!
7O how comely is wisdom for the aged, and understanding and counsel to men of honour!
8Much experience is the crown of old men, and the fear of God is their glory.
9Nine things that are not to be imagined by the heart have I magnified, and the tenth I will utter to men with my tongue.
10A man that hath joy of his children: and he that liveth and seeth the fall of his enemies.
11Blessed 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.
12Blessed is he that findeth a true friend, and that declareth justice to an ear that heareth.
13How great is he that findeth wisdom and knowledge! but there is none above him that feareth the Lord.
14The fear of God hath set itself above all things:
15Blessed is the man, to whom it is given to have the fear of God: he that holdeth it, to whom shall he be likened?
16The fear of God is the beginning of his love: and the beginning of faith is to be fast joined unto it.
17The sadness of the heart is every plague: and the wickedness of a woman is all evil.
18And a man will choose any plague, but the plague of the heart:
19And ally wickedness, but the wickedness of a woman:
20And any affliction, but the affliction from them that hate him:
21And ally revenge, but the revenge of enemies.
22There is no head worse than the head of a serpent:
23And 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.
24The 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,
25Her husband groaned, and hearing he sighed a little.
26All malice is shore to the malice of a woman, let the lot of sinners fall upon her.
27As the climbing of a sandy way is to the feet of the aged, so is a wife full of tongue to a quiet man.
28Look not upon a woman's beauty, and desire not a woman for beauty.
29A woman's anger, and impudence, and confusion is great.
30A woman, if she have superiority, is contrary to her husband.
31A wicked woman abateth the courage, and maketh a heavy countenance, and a wounded heart.
32Feeble hands, and disjointed knees, a woman that doth not make her husband happy.
33From the woman came the beginning of sin, and by her we all die.
34Give no issue to thy water, no, not a little: nor to a wicked woman liberty to gad abroad.
35If she walk not at thy hand, she will confound thee in the sight of thy enemies.
36Cut her off from thy flesh, lest she always abuse thee.
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Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 25: DRC1752
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An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.