Sirach 26
A good wife brings joy and peace to her husband, doubling the years of his life, and is a gift from God. In contrast, a wicked or jealous wife is a source of grief and suffering. A virtuous wife, on the other hand, is a treasure, bringing discipline and self-restraint, and is adorned with the beauty of a mature and holy life. A husband is blessed to have such a wife, who is a gift from God and a source of joy and strength.
Blessed is the husband of a good wife. For the number of his years is doubledA good wife delights her husband, and she will fill up the years of his life with peaceA good wife is a good portion. She will be given the portion of those who fear God, like a man who has done good deedsBut, rich or poor, with a good heart, his countenance will be cheerful at all timesOf three things, my heart has been afraid, and at a fourth, my face has shown dreadan accusation made by a city, and the gathering of a moband a deceitful false accusation. All these are more grievous than deathA jealous wife is a grief and a mourning to the heartIn a jealous wife, there is a scourge of the tongue, which communicates with everyoneLike a yoke of oxen being provoked, so also is a wicked wife. He who has hold of her is like one who has taken hold of a scorpionAn inebriated wife is a great wrath. And her disgrace and indecency will not be coveredThe fornication of a wife will become known by the haughtiness of her eyes and by her eyelidsSo that her daughter will not also turn away, keep a strict watch; otherwise, having found an opportunity, she may enjoy herselfBe wary of the irreverence of her eyes, and you should not wonder if she might disregard youLike a thirsty traveler, she will open her mouth to the fountain, and she will drink from every water nearby, and she will sit down beside every fencepost, and she will open her quiver to every arrow, until she becomes wearyThe grace of an attentive wife will delight her husband, and will fatten his bonesHer discipline is a gift from GodSuch is an understanding and quiet wife. For there is no substitution for a well-instructed soulA holy and contrite wife is grace upon graceAnd no amount of money is equal to the value of a soul with self-restraintLike the sun rising over the world in the high places of God, so the beauty of a good wife is the adornment of her houseLike a lamp shining atop a holy lampstand, so is the beauty of a face in the mature stage of lifeLike golden pillars upon bases of silver, so are the firm feet of a mature wife upon the soles of her feetLike everlasting foundations upon a solid rock, so are the commandments of God in the heart of a holy wifeBy two things, my heart is greatly saddened, and at a third, anger overwhelms mea man of war failing because of dire need, and an understanding man treated with contemptand anyone who crosses over from justice to sin. God has prepared such a one for the spearTwo kinds of things have seemed difficult and dangerous to me: a merchant will not be easily freed from his negligence, and a shopkeeper will not be justified by the sins of his lips
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