Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), Chapter 26

¹Blessed is the man that hath a virtuous wife, for the number of his days shall be double. ²A virtuous woman rejoiceth her husband, and he shall fulfil the years of his life in peace. ³A good wife is a good portion, which shall be given in the portion of them that fear the Lord. ⁴Whether 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. ⁵There 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. ⁶But 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. ⁷An evil wife is a yoke shaken to and fro: he that hath hold of her is as though he held a scorpion. ⁸A drunken woman and a gadder abroad causeth great anger, and she will not cover her own shame.

⁹The whoredom of a woman may be known in her haughty looks and eyelids. ¹⁰If thy daughter be shameless, keep her in straitly, lest she abuse herself through overmuch liberty. ¹¹Watch over an impudent eye: and marvel not if she trespass against thee. ¹²She 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. ¹³The grace of a wife delighteth her husband, and her discretion will fatten his bones. ¹⁴A silent and loving woman is a gift of the Lord; and there is nothing so much worth as a mind well instructed. ¹⁵A shamefaced and faithful woman is a double grace, and her continent mind cannot be valued. ¹⁶As the sun when it ariseth in the high heaven; so is the beauty of a good wife in the ordering of her house.

¹⁷As the clear light is upon the holy candlestick; so is the beauty of the face in ripe age. ¹⁸As the golden pillars are upon the sockets of silver; so are the fair feet with a constant heart. ¹⁹My son, keep the flower of thine age sound; and give not thy strength to strangers. ²⁰When thou hast gotten a fruitful possession through all the field, sow it with thine own seed, trusting in the goodness of thy stock. ²¹So thy race which thou leavest shall be magnified, having the confidence of their good descent. ²²An harlot shall be accounted as spittle; but a married woman is a tower against death to her husband. ²³A wicked woman is given as a portion to a wicked man: but a godly woman is given to him that feareth the Lord. ²⁴A dishonest woman contemneth shame: but an honest woman will reverence her husband.

²⁵A shameless woman shall be counted as a dog; but she that is shamefaced will fear the Lord. ²⁶A 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. ²⁷A loud crying woman and a scold shall be sought out to drive away the enemies. ²⁸There 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. ²⁹A merchant shall hardly keep himself from doing wrong; and an huckster shall not be freed from sin.