Sirach 25 — ASVBT

25Verse 1In three things I was beautified,
And stood up beautiful before the Lord and men:
The concord of brethren, and friendship of neighbors,
And a woman and her husband that walk together in agreement.
^{Verse 2}But three sorts of men my soul hateth,
And I am greatly offended at their life:
A poor man that is haughty, and a rich man that is a liar,
And an old man that is an adulterer lacking understanding.^{Verse 3}In thy youth thou hast not gathered,
And how shouldest thou find in thine old age?
^{Verse 4}How beautiful a thing is judgment for gray hairs,
And for elders to know counsel!
^{Verse 5}How beautiful is the wisdom of old men,
And thought and counsel to men that are in honor!
^{Verse 6}Much experience is the crown of old men;
And their glorying is the fear of the Lord.^{Verse 7}There are nine things that I have thought of, and in my heart counted happy;
And the tenth I will utter with my tongue:
A man that hath joy of his children;
A man that liveth and looketh upon the fall of his enemies:
^{Verse 8}Happy is he that dwelleth with a wife of understanding;
And he that hath not slipped with his tongue;
And he that hath not served a man that is unworthy of him:
^{Verse 9}Happy is he that hath found prudence;
And he that discourseth in the ears of them that listen.
^{Verse 10}How great is he that hath found wisdom!
Yet is there none above him that feareth the Lord.
^{Verse 11}The fear of the Lord passeth all things:
He that holdeth it, to whom shall he be likened?^{Verse 13}Give me any plague but the plague of the heart;
And any wickedness but the wickedness of a woman;
^{Verse 14}Any calamity, but a calamity from them that hate me;
And any vengeance, but the vengeance of enemies.
^{Verse 15}There is no head above the head of a serpent;
And there is no wrath above the wrath of an enemy.^{Verse 16}I will rather dwell with a lion and a dragon,
Than keep house with a wicked woman.
^{Verse 17}The wickedness of a woman changeth her look,
And darkeneth her countenance as a bear doth.
^{Verse 18}Her husband shall sit at meat among his neighbors,
And when he heareth it he sigheth bitterly.
^{Verse 19}All malice is but little to the malice of a woman:
Let the portion of a sinner fall on her.
^{Verse 20}As the going up a sandy way is to the feet of the aged,
So is a wife full of words to a quiet man.
^{Verse 21}Throw not thyself upon the beauty of a woman;
And desire not a woman for her beauty.
^{Verse 22}There is anger, and impudence, and great reproach,
If a woman maintain her husband.
^{Verse 23}A wicked woman is abasement of heart,
And sadness of countenance, and a wounded heart:
A woman that will not make her husband happy
Is as hands that hang down, and palsied knees.
^{Verse 24}From a woman was the beginning of sin;
And because of her we all die.
^{Verse 25}Give not water an outlet;
Neither to a wicked woman freedom of speech.
^{Verse 26}If she go not as thou wouldest have her,
Cut her off from thy flesh.