God's New Bible

The Book of Jesus Sirach

Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic

- Chapter 25 -

Documents of wisdom on several subjects.

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

Documents of wisdom on several subjects.

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

Footnotes

(a)25:12 Verse 12 is omitted by the best authorities.
(b)25:26 The remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.