Ecclesiasticus, 26
1. Happy the husband of a good wife, twice-lengthened are his days;
1. How blessed is the husband of a really good wife; the number of his days will be doubled.
2. A worthy wife brings joy to her husband, peaceful and full is his life.
2. A perfect wife is the joy of her husband, he will live out the years of his life in peace.
3. A good wife is a generous gift bestowed upon him who fears the LORD;
3. A good wife is the best of portions, reserved for those who fear the Lord;
4. Be he rich or poor, his heart is content, and a smile is ever on his face.
4. rich or poor, their hearts will be glad, their faces cheerful, whatever the season.
5. There are three things at which my heart quakes, a fourth before which I quail: Though false charges in public, trial before all the people, and lying testimony are harder to bear than death,
5. There are three things that I dread, and a fourth which terrifies me: slander by a whole town, the gathering of a mob, and a false accusation -- these are all worse than death;
6. A jealous wife is heartache and mourning and a scourging tongue like the other three.
6. but a woman jealous of a woman means heartbreak and sorrow, and all this is the scourge of the tongue.
7. A bad wife is a chafing yoke; he who marries her seizes a scorpion.
7. A bad wife is a badly fitting ox-yoke, trying to master her is like grasping a scorpion.
8. A drunken wife arouses great anger, for she does not hide her shame.
8. A drunken wife will goad anyone to fury, she cannot conceal her own degradation.
9. By her eyelids and her haughty stare an unchaste wife can be recognized.
9. A woman's wantonness shows in her wide-eyed look, her eyelashes leave no doubt.
10. Keep a strict watch over an unruly wife, lest, finding an opportunity, she make use of it;
10. Keep a headstrong daughter under firm control, or, feeling free, she will take advantage of it.
11. Follow close if her eyes are bold, and be not surprised if she betrays you:
11. Keep a strict watch on her shameless eye, do not be surprised if she disgraces you.
12. As a thirsty traveler with eager mouth drinks from any water that he finds, So she settles down before every tent peg and opens her quiver for every arrow.
12. Like a thirsty traveller she will open her mouth and drink any water she comes across; she will sit down in front of every tent-peg and open her quiver to any arrow.
13. A gracious wife delights her husband, her thoughtfulness puts flesh on his bones;
13. The grace of a wife will charm her husband, her understanding will make him the stronger.
14. A gift from the LORD is her governed speech, and her firm virtue is of surpassing worth.
14. A silent wife is a gift from the Lord, no price can be put on a well-trained character.
15. Choicest of blessings is a modest wife, priceless her chaste person.
15. A modest wife is a boon twice over, a chaste character cannot be over-valued.
16. Like the sun rising in the LORD'S heavens, the beauty of a virtuous wife is the radiance of her home.
16. Like the sun rising over the mountains of the Lord, such is the beauty of a good wife in a well-run house.
17. Like the light which shines above the holy lampstand, are her beauty of face and graceful figure.
17. Like a lamp shining on the sacred lamp-stand, such is a beautiful face on a well-proportioned body.
18. Golden columns on silver bases are her shapely limbs and steady feet.
18. Like golden pillars on a silver base, such are shapely legs on firm-set heels.
19. These two bring grief to my heart, and the third arouses my horror: A wealthy man reduced to want; illustrious men held in contempt; And the man who passes from justice to sin, for whom the LORD makes ready the sword.
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28. There are two things which grieve my heart and a third arouses my anger: a warrior wasting away through poverty, the intelligent treated with contempt, someone turning back from virtue to sin -- the Lord marks out such a person for a violent death.
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29. It is difficult for a merchant to avoid doing wrong and for a trader not to incur sin.
