Ecclesiasticus, 25

1. In three things I was beautified, and stood up beautiful both before God and men: the unity of brethren, the love of neighbours, a man and a wife that agree together.

1. Three things delight me and are delightful to God and men: agreement between brothers, friendship between neighbors, and perfect harmony between husband and wife.

2. Three sorts of men my soul hateth, and I am greatly offended at their life: a poor man that is proud, a rich man that is a liar, and an old adulterer that doateth.

2. There are three kinds of persons whom I detest and whose existence I cast away from me: a poor man full of pride, a rich man who is a liar, and an adulterous old man who is a fool.

3. If thou hast gathered nothing in thy youth, how canst thou find any thing in thine age?

3. If you have saved nothing in your youth, what will you have in old age?

4. O how comely a thing is judgment for gray hairs, and for ancient men to know counsel!

4. What a great thing is old age with sound judgment, an old man who can counsel!

5. O how comely is the wisdom of old men, and understanding and counsel to men of honour.

5. What a great thing is wisdom in those who are old, or understanding and prudence in the great.

6. Much experience is the crown of old men, and the fear of God is their glory.

6. Rich experience is the crown of the old, their pride is the fear of the Lord.

7. There be nine things which I have judged in mine heart to be happy, and the tenth I will utter with my tongue: A man that hath joy of his children; and he that liveth to see the fall of his enemy:

7. I think of nine things which I consider happy and a tenth to which I will also refer: the man who finds his happiness in his children; the man who sees the ruin of his enemies in his lifetime.

8. Well is him that dwelleth with a wife of understanding, and that hath not slipped with his tongue, and that hath not served a man more unworthy than himself:

8. Happy the man who lives with a sensible wife; he who does not plow with a donkey and ox; he who has done no wrong in speech; he who does not serve an unworthy master.

9. Well is him that hath found prudence, and he that speaketh in the ears of them that will hear:

9. Happy he who has acquired good sense and is able to speak before an attentive audience!

10. O how great is he that findeth wisdom! yet is there none above him that feareth the Lord.

10. Great is he who has gained wisdom, but no one surpasses the man who fears the Lord.

11. But the love of the Lord passeth all things for illumination: he that holdeth it, whereto shall he be likened?

11. Since the fear of the Lord excels everything, who can compare with the one who possesses it?

12. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of his love: and faith is the beginning of cleaving unto him.

12.

13. [Give me] any plague, but the plague of the heart: and any wickedness, but the wickedness of a woman:

13. Any wound rather than the wound of the heart; any wickedness rather than the wickedness of a woman;

14. And any affliction, but the affliction from them that hate me: and any revenge, but the revenge of enemies.

14. any sadness rather than that inflicted by an enemy; any vengeance rather than the vengeance of a foe.

15. There is no head above the head of a serpent; and there is no wrath above the wrath of an enemy.

15. There is no poison worse than a snake's venom, there is no rage worse than an enemy's.

16. I had rather dwell with a lion and a dragon, than to keep house with a wicked woman.

16. Better to live with a lion and a snake than to share a house with a wicked woman.

17. The wickedness of a woman changeth her face, and darkeneth her countenance like sackcloth.

17. Wickedness disfigures a woman's appearance, it saddens the face, making her look like a bear.

18. Her husband shall sit among his neighbours; and when he heareth it shall sigh bitterly.

18. When her husband dines with his neighbor, he sighs bitterly, in spite of himself.

19. All wickedness is but little to the wickedness of a woman: let the portion of a sinner fall upon her.

19. All wickedness is nothing compared with a woman's wickedness. Let her lot be that of a sinner!

20. As the climbing up a sandy way is to the feet of the aged, so is a wife full of words to a quiet man.

20. As a sandhill is to an old man's feet, so is the talkative woman to her quiet husband.

21. Stumble not at the beauty of a woman, and desire her not for pleasure.

21. Do not be fooled by a woman's beauty or fall in love with her.

22. A woman, if she maintain her husband, is full of anger, impudence, and much reproach.

22. Expect anger, reproach and plenty of shame when the wife rules the husband.

23. A wicked woman abateth the courage, maketh an heavy countenance and a wounded heart: a woman that will not comfort her husband in distress maketh weak hands and feeble knees.

23. Dejected spirits, a sad face and unseen wounds, these are the work of a wicked woman. Idle hands and unsteady knees are found when a wife brings her husband no happiness.

24. Of the woman came the beginning of sin, and through her we all die.

24. For sin began with woman and we all die because of the inheritance of the congregations of Israel.

25. Give the water no passage; neither a wicked woman liberty to gad abroad.

25. Do not let water leak out or give free rein to a wicked woman. If she does not do as you tell her, get rid of her.

26. If she go not as thou wouldest have her, cut her off from thy flesh, and give her a bill of divorce, and let her go.

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