Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), Chapter 25

¹In 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. ²Three 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. ³If thou hast gathered nothing in thy youth, how canst thou find any thing in thine age? ⁴O how comely a thing is judgment for gray hairs, and for ancient men to know counsel! ⁵O how comely is the wisdom of old men, and understanding and counsel to men of honour. ⁶Much experience is the crown of old men, and the fear of God is their glory. ⁷There 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: ⁸Well 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:

⁹Well is him that hath found prudence, and he that speaketh in the ears of them that will hear: ¹⁰O how great is he that findeth wisdom! yet is there none above him that feareth the Lord. ¹¹But the love of the Lord passeth all things for illumination: he that holdeth it, whereto shall he be likened? ¹²The fear of the Lord is the beginning of his love: and faith is the beginning of cleaving unto him. ¹³Give me any plague, but the plague of the heart: and any wickedness, but the wickedness of a woman: ¹⁴And any affliction, but the affliction from them that hate me: and any revenge, but the revenge of enemies. ¹⁵There is no head above the head of a serpent; and there is no wrath above the wrath of an enemy. ¹⁶I had rather dwell with a lion and a dragon, than to keep house with a wicked woman.

¹⁷The wickedness of a woman changeth her face, and darkeneth her countenance like sackcloth. ¹⁸Her husband shall sit among his neighbours; and when he heareth it shall sigh bitterly. ¹⁹All wickedness is but little to the wickedness of a woman: let the portion of a sinner fall upon her. ²⁰As the climbing up a sandy way is to the feet of the aged, so is a wife full of words to a quiet man. ²¹Stumble not at the beauty of a woman, and desire her not for pleasure. ²²A woman, if she maintain her husband, is full of anger, impudence, and much reproach. ²³A 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. ²⁴Of the woman came the beginning of sin, and through her we all die.

²⁵Give the water no passage; neither a wicked woman liberty to gad abroad. ²⁶If 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.