Sirach 25 — WEBU
25Verse 1I enjoy three things,and they are beautiful before the Lord and men:
the agreement of kindred,
the friendship of neighbors,
and a woman and her husband who walk together in agreement.Verse 2But my soul hates three sorts of people,and I am greatly offended at their life:
a poor man who is arrogant,
a rich man who is a liar,
and an old fool who is an adulterer.Verse 3If you gathered nothing in your youth,how could you find anything in your old age?Verse 4How beautiful a thing is judgment in the gray-haired,and for elders to know good counsel!Verse 5How beautiful is the wisdom of old men,and understanding and counsel to men who are in honor!Verse 6Much experience is the crown of the aged.Their glory is the fear of the Lord.Verse 7There 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 who has joy with his children,
and a man who lives and sees the fall of his enemies.Verse 8Happy is he who dwells with a wife of understanding,he who has not slipped with his tongue,
and he who has not served a man who is unworthy of him.Verse 9Happy is he who has found prudence,and he who speaks in the ears of those who listen.Verse 10How great is he who has found wisdom!Yet there is none greater than one who fears the Lord.Verse 11The fear of the Lord surpasses all things.To whom shall he who holds it be likened?Verse 12+Verse 13Any wound but a wound of the heart!Any wickedness but the wickedness of a woman!Verse 14Any calamity but a calamity from those who hate me!Any vengeance but the vengeance of enemies!Verse 15There is no venom worse than a snake’s venom.There is no wrath worse than an enemy’s wrath.Verse 16I would rather dwell with a lion and a dragonthan keep house with a wicked woman.Verse 17The wickedness of a woman changes her appearance,and darkens her countenance like that of a bear.Verse 18Her husband will sit among his neighbors,and when he hears it, he sighs bitterly.Verse 19All malice is small compared to the malice of a woman.Let the portion of a sinner fall on her.Verse 20As walking up a sandy hill is to the feet of the aged,so is a wife full of words to a quiet man.Verse 21Don’t be ensnared by a woman’s beauty.Don’t desire a woman for her beauty.Verse 22There is anger, impudence, and great reproachif a woman supports her husband.Verse 23A wicked woman is abasement of heart,sadness of countenance, and a wounded heart.A woman who won’t make her husband happyis like hands that hang down, and weak knees.Verse 24The beginning of sin came from a woman.Because of her, we all die.Verse 25Don’t give water an outlet,and don’t give a wicked woman freedom of speech.Verse 26If she doesn’t go as you direct,cut her away from your flesh.+
the agreement of kindred,
the friendship of neighbors,
and a woman and her husband who walk together in agreement.Verse 2But my soul hates three sorts of people,and I am greatly offended at their life:
a poor man who is arrogant,
a rich man who is a liar,
and an old fool who is an adulterer.Verse 3If you gathered nothing in your youth,how could you find anything in your old age?Verse 4How beautiful a thing is judgment in the gray-haired,and for elders to know good counsel!Verse 5How beautiful is the wisdom of old men,and understanding and counsel to men who are in honor!Verse 6Much experience is the crown of the aged.Their glory is the fear of the Lord.Verse 7There 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 who has joy with his children,
and a man who lives and sees the fall of his enemies.Verse 8Happy is he who dwells with a wife of understanding,he who has not slipped with his tongue,
and he who has not served a man who is unworthy of him.Verse 9Happy is he who has found prudence,and he who speaks in the ears of those who listen.Verse 10How great is he who has found wisdom!Yet there is none greater than one who fears the Lord.Verse 11The fear of the Lord surpasses all things.To whom shall he who holds it be likened?Verse 12+Verse 13Any wound but a wound of the heart!Any wickedness but the wickedness of a woman!Verse 14Any calamity but a calamity from those who hate me!Any vengeance but the vengeance of enemies!Verse 15There is no venom worse than a snake’s venom.There is no wrath worse than an enemy’s wrath.Verse 16I would rather dwell with a lion and a dragonthan keep house with a wicked woman.Verse 17The wickedness of a woman changes her appearance,and darkens her countenance like that of a bear.Verse 18Her husband will sit among his neighbors,and when he hears it, he sighs bitterly.Verse 19All malice is small compared to the malice of a woman.Let the portion of a sinner fall on her.Verse 20As walking up a sandy hill is to the feet of the aged,so is a wife full of words to a quiet man.Verse 21Don’t be ensnared by a woman’s beauty.Don’t desire a woman for her beauty.Verse 22There is anger, impudence, and great reproachif a woman supports her husband.Verse 23A wicked woman is abasement of heart,sadness of countenance, and a wounded heart.A woman who won’t make her husband happyis like hands that hang down, and weak knees.Verse 24The beginning of sin came from a woman.Because of her, we all die.Verse 25Don’t give water an outlet,and don’t give a wicked woman freedom of speech.Verse 26If she doesn’t go as you direct,cut her away from your flesh.+