1 My spirit is pleased with three things; these are approved in the sight of God and men 2 the harmony of brothers, and the love of neighbors, and a husband and wife agreeing well together 3 My soul hates three kinds of things; and I am greatly distressed over their souls 4 an arrogant pauper, a wealthy liar, a foolish and senseless elder 5 The things that you have not obtained in your youth, how will you find them in your old age 6 How beautiful it is for a grey head to have judgment, and for elders to know counsel 7 How beautiful it is for those who are aged to have wisdom, and for those who are honored to have understanding and counsel 8 Great experience is the crown of the aged, and the fear of God is their glory 9 I have magnified nine things, overlooked by the heart; and a tenth, I will declare to men with my tongue 10 a man who finds joy in his children, and one who lives to see the undoing of his enemies 11 Blessed 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 himself 12 Blessed is he who finds a true friend, and he who describes justice to an attentive ear 13 How great is he who finds wisdom and knowledge! But there is no one above him who fears the Lord 14 The fear of God has set itself above all things 15 Blessed 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 compared 16 The fear of God is the beginning of his love; and the beginning of faith has been joined closely to the same 17 The sadness of the heart is every wound. And the wickedness of a wife is every malice 18 And a man will choose any wound, but the wound of the heart 19 and any wickedness, but the wickedness of a wife 20 and any obstacle, but the obstacle of those who hate him 21 and any vindication, but the vindication of his enemies 22 There is no head worse than the head of a serpent 23 and 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 wife 24 A wicked wife changes her face. And she darkens her countenance like a bear. And she displays it like sackcloth. In the midst of her neighbors 25 her husband groans, and hearing of this, he sighs a little 26 All malice is brief compared to the malice of a wife. Let the fate of sinners fall upon her 27 As climbing over sand is to the feet of the aged, so is a talkative wife to a quiet man 28 You should not favor a woman’s beauty, and you should not desire a wife for her beauty 29 The anger and disrespect and shame from a wife can be great 30 The wife, if she has primacy, is set against her husband 31 A wicked wife debases the heart, and saddens the face, and wounds the heart 32 A wife who does not make her husband happy enfeebles the hands and weakens the knees 33 The beginning of sin came from a woman; and through her, we all die 34 You should not provide an exit to your water, not even a little; nor should you give permission for a wicked wife to exceed the limit 35 If she will not walk at your hand, she will confound you in the sight of your enemies 36 Tear her away from your body, lest she abuse you continually
