Sirach 25

¹ {cf2 Three things reioyce me, and by them am I beautified before God and men: the vnitie of brethren, the loue of neighbours, a man and wife that agree together.}

² {cf2 Three sortes of men my soule hateth, and I vtterly abhorre the life of them: a poore man that is proude: a rich man that is a lyar, and an old adulterer that doteth.}

³ {cf2 If thou hast gathered nothing in thy youth, what canst thou finde in thine age?}

⁴ {cf2 Oh, how pleasant a thing is it when gray headed men minister iudgement, and when the elders can giue good counsell!}

⁵ {cf2 Oh, how comely a thing is wisedome vnto aged men, and vnderstanding and prudencie to men of honour!}

⁶ {cf2 The crowne of old men is to haue much experience, and the feare of God is their glorie.}

⁷ {cf2 There be nine things, which I haue iudged in mine heart to be happy, and the tenth wil I pronounce with my tongue: a man that while he liueth, hath ioy of his children, and seeth the fall of his enemies.}

⁸ {cf2 Well is him that dwelleth with a wife of vnderstanding, and that hath not fallen with his tongue, and that hath not serued such as are vnworthie of him.}

⁹ {cf2 Well is him that findeth prudencie, & he that speaketh in the eares of them that will heare.}

¹⁰ {cf2 Oh, how great is hee that findeth wisdome! yet is there none aboue him, that feareth the Lord.}

¹¹ {cf2 The feare of the Lorde passeth all things in clearenesse.}

¹² {cf2 Blessed is the man, vnto whom it is granted to haue the feare of God. Vnto whom shall he be likened that hath attayned it?}

¹³ {cf2 The feare of the Lord is the beginning of his loue, & faith is ye beginning to be ioyned vnto him.}

¹⁴ {cf2 The greatest heauinesse is the heauinesse of the heart, and the greatest malice is the malice of a woman.}

¹⁵ {cf2 Giue me any plague, saue only the plague of the heart, & any malice, saue ye malice of a woman:}

¹⁶ {cf2 Or any assault, saue the assault of them that hate, or any vengeance, saue the vengeance of the enemy.}

¹⁷ {cf2 There is not a more wicked head then the head of the serpent, and there is no wrath aboue the wrath of an enemie.}

¹⁸ {cf2 I had rather dwel with a lion and dragon, then to keepe house with a wicked wife.}

¹⁹ {cf2 The wickednesse of a woman changeth her face, & maketh her countenance blacke as a sacke.}

²⁰ {cf2 Her husband is sitting among his neighbors: because of her he sigheth sore or he beware.}

²¹ {cf2 All wickednesse is but little to the wickednesse of a woman: let the portion of the sinner fall vpon her.}

²² {cf2 As the climing vp of a sandie way is to the feete of the aged, so is a wife full of words to a quiet man.}

²³ {cf2 Stumble not at the beautie of a woman, and desire her not for thy pleasure.}

²⁴ {cf2 If a woman nourish her husbad, she is angryand impudent and full of reproche.}

²⁵ {cf2 A wicked wife maketh a sorie heart, an heauie countenance, and a wounded minde, weake handes and feeble knees, and can not comfort her husband in heauinesse.}

²⁶ {cf2 Of the woman came the beginning of sinne, and through her we all die.}

²⁷ {cf2 Giue the water no passage, no not a litle, neither giue a wicked woman libertie to goe out.}

²⁸ {cf2 If she walke not in thine obedience, she shall confound thee in the sight of thine enemies. Cut her off then from thy flesh: Giue her, and forsake her.}