Sirach 25
The passage describes the beauty of harmony among brothers, love of neighbors, and a husband and wife agreeing well together, while also expressing disdain for arrogant paupers, wealthy liars, and foolish elders. It highlights the importance of wisdom, understanding, and the fear of God in the aged. The passage also lists various blessings, including finding joy in children, living with a wise wife, and having a true friend. However, it also warns of the dangers of a wicked wife, describing her as a source of malice, anger, and sadness, and advises against favoring a woman's beauty or giving a wicked wife too much freedom.
1My spirit is pleased with three things; these are approved in the sight of God and men2the harmony of brothers, and the love of neighbors, and a husband and wife agreeing well together3My soul hates three kinds of things; and I am greatly distressed over their souls4an arrogant pauper, a wealthy liar, a foolish and senseless elder5The things that you have not obtained in your youth, how will you find them in your old age6How beautiful it is for a grey head to have judgment, and for elders to know counsel7How beautiful it is for those who are aged to have wisdom, and for those who are honored to have understanding and counsel8Great experience is the crown of the aged, and the fear of God is their glory9I have magnified nine things, overlooked by the heart; and a tenth, I will declare to men with my tongue10a man who finds joy in his children, and one who lives to see the undoing of his enemies11Blessed is he who lives with a wise wife, and he who has not slipped with his tongue, and he who has not served those unworthy of himself12Blessed is he who finds a true friend, and he who describes justice to an attentive ear13How great is he who finds wisdom and knowledge! But there is no one above him who fears the Lord14The fear of God has set itself above all things15Blessed is the man to whom it has been given to have the fear of God. He who holds to it, to whom can he be compared16The fear of God is the beginning of his love; and the beginning of faith has been joined closely to the same17The sadness of the heart is every wound. And the wickedness of a wife is every malice18And a man will choose any wound, but the wound of the heart19and any wickedness, but the wickedness of a wife20and any obstacle, but the obstacle of those who hate him21and any vindication, but the vindication of his enemies22There is no head worse than the head of a serpent23and there is no anger above the anger of a wife. It would be more agreeable to abide with a lion or a dragon, than to live with a wicked wife24A wicked wife changes her face. And she darkens her countenance like a bear. And she displays it like sackcloth. In the midst of her neighbors25her husband groans, and hearing of this, he sighs a little26All malice is brief compared to the malice of a wife. Let the fate of sinners fall upon her27As climbing over sand is to the feet of the aged, so is a talkative wife to a quiet man28You should not favor a woman’s beauty, and you should not desire a wife for her beauty29The anger and disrespect and shame from a wife can be great30The wife, if she has primacy, is set against her husband31A wicked wife debases the heart, and saddens the face, and wounds the heart32A wife who does not make her husband happy enfeebles the hands and weakens the knees33The beginning of sin came from a woman; and through her, we all die34You should not provide an exit to your water, not even a little; nor should you give permission for a wicked wife to exceed the limit35If she will not walk at your hand, she will confound you in the sight of your enemies36Tear her away from your body, lest she abuse you continually
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