Sirach 25

Verse 1. With three things my spirit is pleased, which are approved before God and men:

Verse 2. The concord of brethren, and the love of neighbours, and man and wife that agree well together.

Verse 3. Three sorts my soul hateth, and I am greatly grieved at their life:

Verse 4. A poor man that is proud: a rich man that is a liar: an old man that is a fool, and doting.

Verse 5. The things that thou hast not gathered in thy youth, how shalt thou find them in thy old age?

Verse 6. O how comely is judgment for a grey head, and for ancients to know counsel!

Verse 7. O how comely is wisdom for the aged, and understanding and counsel to men of honour!

Verse 8. Much experience is the crown of old men, and the fear of God is their glory.

Verse 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.

Verse 10. A man that hath joy of his children: and he that liveth and seeth the fall of his enemies.

Verse 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.

Verse 12. Blessed is he that findeth a true friend, and that declareth justice to an ear that heareth.

Verse 13. How great is he that findeth wisdom and knowledge! but there is none above him that feareth the Lord.

Verse 14. The fear of God hath set itself above all things:

Verse 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?

Verse 16. The fear of God is the beginning of his love: and the beginning of faith is to be fast joined unto it.

Verse 17. The sadness of the heart is every plague: and the wickedness of a woman is all evil.

Verse 18. And a man will choose any plague, but the plague of the heart:

Verse 19. And any wickedness, but the wickedness of a woman:

Verse 20. And any affliction, but the affliction from them that hate him:

Verse 21. And any revenge, but the revenge of enemies.

Verse 22. There is no head worse than the head of a serpent:

Verse 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.

Verse 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,

Verse 25. Her husband groaned, and hearing he sighed a little.

Verse 26. All malice is short to the malice of a woman, let the lot of sinners fall upon her.

Verse 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.

Verse 28. Look not upon a woman's beauty, and desire not a woman for beauty.

Verse 29. A woman's anger, and impudence, and confusion is great.

Verse 30. A woman, if she have superiority, is contrary to her husband.

Verse 31. A wicked woman abateth the courage, and maketh a heavy countenance, and a wounded heart.

Verse 32. Feeble hands, and disjointed knees, a woman that doth not make her husband happy.

Verse 33. From the woman came the beginning of sin, and by her we all die.

Verse 34. Give no issue to thy water, no, not a little: nor to a wicked woman liberty to gad abroad.

Verse 35. If she walk not at thy hand, she will confound thee in the sight of thy enemies.

Verse 36. Cut her off from thy flesh, lest she always abuse thee.