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The Book of Jesus Sirach

⭑ World English Bible Catholic :: King James Version ⭑

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- Chapter 26 -

Of good and bad women.

1
Happy is the husband of a good wife. The number of his days will be doubled.
2
A faithful wife gives joy to her husband. He will fulfill his years in peace.
3
A good wife is a great gift. She will be given to those who fear the Lord.
4
Whether a man is rich or poor, a good heart makes a cheerful face at all times.
5
Of three things my heart was afraid, and concerning the fourth(a) kind I made supplication: The slander of a city, the assembly of a mob, and a false accusation. All these are more grievous than death.
6
A grief of heart and sorrow is a woman who is jealous of another woman. Her tongue-lashing makes it known to all.
7
A wicked woman is like a chafing yoke. He who takes hold of her is like one who grasps a scorpion.
8
A drunken woman causes great wrath. She will not cover her own shame.
9
The fornication of a woman is in the lifting up of her eyes; it will be known by her eyelids.
10
Keep strict watch on a headstrong daughter, lest she find liberty for herself, and use it.
11
Watch out for an impudent eye, and don’t be surprised if it sins against you.
12
She will open her mouth like a thirsty traveller, and drink from every water that is near. She will sit down at every post, and open her quiver to any arrow.
13
The grace of a wife will delight her husband. Her knowledge will strengthen(b) his bones.
14
A silent woman is a gift of the Lord. There is nothing worth so much as a well-instructed soul.
15
A modest woman is grace upon grace. There are no scales that can weigh the value of a self-controlled soul.
16
As the sun when it arises in the highest places of the Lord, so is the beauty of a good wife in her well-organized home.
17
As the lamp that shines upon the holy lampstand, so is the beauty of the face on a well-proportioned body.
18
As the golden pillars are upon a base of silver, so are beautiful feet with the breasts of one who is steadfast.
19
(c)
20
(d)
21
(e)
22
(f)
23
(g)
24
(h)
25
(i)
26
(j)
27
(k)
28
For two things my heart is grieved, and for the third anger comes upon me: a warrior who suffers for poverty, men of understanding who are counted as garbage, and one who turns back from righteousness to sin— the Lord will prepare him for the sword!
29
It is difficult for a merchant to keep himself from wrong doing, and for a retailer to be acquitted of sin.

Footnotes

(a)26:5 Gr. countenance.
(b)26:13 or, fatten
(c)26:19 Verses 19-27 are omitted by the best authorities.
(d)26:19 Verses 19-27 are omitted by the best authorities.
(e)26:19 Verses 19-27 are omitted by the best authorities.
(f)26:19 Verses 19-27 are omitted by the best authorities.
(g)26:19 Verses 19-27 are omitted by the best authorities.
(h)26:19 Verses 19-27 are omitted by the best authorities.
(i)26:19 Verses 19-27 are omitted by the best authorities.
(j)26:19 Verses 19-27 are omitted by the best authorities.
(k)26:19 Verses 19-27 are omitted by the best authorities.

Of good and bad women.

1
Blessed is the man that hath a virtuous wife, for the number of his days shall be double.
2
A virtuous woman rejoiceth her husband, and he shall fulfil the years of his life in peace.
3
A good wife is a good portion, which shall be given in the portion of them that fear the Lord.
4
Whether a man be rich or poor, if he have a good heart toward the Lord, he shall at all times rejoice with a cheerful countenance.
5
There be three things that mine heart feareth; and for the fourth I was sore afraid: the slander of a city, the gathering together of an unruly multitude, and a false accusation: all these are worse than death.
6
But a grief of heart and sorrow is a woman that is jealous over another woman, and a scourge of the tongue which communicateth with all.
7
An evil wife is a yoke shaken to and fro: he that hath hold of her is as though he held a scorpion.
8
A drunken woman and a gadder abroad causeth great anger, and she will not cover her own shame.
9
The whoredom of a woman may be known in her haughty looks and eyelids.
10
If thy daughter be shameless, keep her in straitly, lest she abuse herself through overmuch liberty.
11
Watch over an impudent eye: and marvel not if she trespass against thee.
12
She will open her mouth, as a thirsty traveller when he hath found a fountain, and drink of every water near her: by every hedge will she sit down, and open her quiver against every arrow.
13
The grace of a wife delighteth her husband, and her discretion will fatten his bones.
14
A silent and loving woman is a gift of the Lord; and there is nothing so much worth as a mind well instructed.
15
A shamefaced and faithful woman is a double grace, and her continent mind cannot be valued.
16
As the sun when it ariseth in the high heaven; so is the beauty of a good wife in the ordering of her house.
17
As the clear light is upon the holy candlestick; so is the beauty of the face in ripe age.
18
As the golden pillars are upon the sockets of silver; so are the fair feet with a constant heart.
19
My son, keep the flower of thine age sound; and give not thy strength to strangers.
20
When thou hast gotten a fruitful possession through all the field, sow it with thine own seed, trusting in the goodness of thy stock.
21
So thy race which thou leavest shall be magnified, having the confidence of their good descent.
22
An harlot shall be accounted as spittle; but a married woman is a tower against death to her husband.
23
A wicked woman is given as a portion to a wicked man: but a godly woman is given to him that feareth the Lord.
24
A dishonest woman contemneth shame: but an honest woman will reverence her husband.
25
A shameless woman shall be counted as a dog; but she that is shamefaced will fear the Lord.
26
A woman that honoureth her husband shall be judged wise of all; but she that dishonoureth him in her pride shall be counted ungodly of all.
27
A loud crying woman and a scold shall be sought out to drive away the enemies.
28
There be two things that grieve my heart; and the third maketh me angry: a man of war that suffereth poverty; and men of understanding that are not set by; and one that returneth from righteousness to sin; the Lord prepareth such an one for the sword.
29
A merchant shall hardly keep himself from doing wrong; and an huckster shall not be freed from sin.
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