Sirach - Chapter 25

Passage

With three things my spirit is pleased, which are approved before God and men: The concord of brethren, and the love of neighbors, and man and wife that agree well together. Three sorts my soul hates, and I am greatly grieved at their life: A poor man that is proud: a rich man that is a liar: an old man that is a fool, and doting. The things that you have not gathered in your youth, how shall you find them in your old age? O how comely is judgment for a grey head, and for ancients to know counsel! O how comely is wisdom for the aged, and understanding and counsel to men of honor! Much experience is the crown of old men, and the fear of God is their glory. 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. A man that has joy of his children: and he that lives and sees the fall of his enemies. Blessed is he that dwells with a wise woman, and that has not slipped with his tongue, and that has not served such as are unworthy of him. Blessed is he that finds a true friend, and that declares justice to an ear that hears. How great is he that finds wisdom and knowledge! but there is none above him that fears the Lord. The fear of God has set itself above all things: Blessed is the man, to whom it is given to have the fear of God: he that holds it, to whom shall he be likened? The fear of God is the beginning of his love: and the beginning of faith is to be fast joined to it. The sadness of the heart is every plague: and the wickedness of a woman is all evil. And a man will choose any plague, but the plague of the heart: And any wickedness, but the wickedness of a woman: And any affliction, but the affliction from them that hate him: And any revenge, but the revenge of enemies. There is no head worse than the head of a serpent: 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. The wickedness of a woman changes her face: and she darkens her countenance as a bear: and shows it like sackcloth. In the midst of her neighbors, Her husband groaned, and hearing he sighed a little. All malice is short to the malice of a woman, let the lot of sinners fall upon her. 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. Look not upon a woman's beauty, and desire not a woman for beauty. A woman's anger, and impudence, and confusion is great. A woman, if she has superiority, is contrary to her husband. A wicked woman abates the courage, and makes a heavy countenance, and a wounded heart. Feeble hands, and disjointed knees, a woman that does not make her husband happy. From the woman came the beginning of sin, and by her we all die. Give no issue to your water, no, not a little: nor to a wicked woman liberty to gad abroad. If she walk not at your hand, she will confound you in the sight of your enemies. Cut her off from your flesh, lest she always abuse you.