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Sirach 26

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Sirach 26

The Joy of a Good Wife

1Happy is the husband of a good wife;

the number of his days will be doubled.

2A loyal wife rejoices her husband,

and he will complete his years in peace.

3A good wife is a great blessing;

she will be granted among the blessings of the man who fears the Lord.

4Whether rich or poor, his heart is glad,

and at all times his face is cheerful.

The Worst of Evils: A Wicked Wife

5Of three things my heart is afraid,

and of a fourth I am frightened:a

The slander of a city, the gathering of a mob,

and false accusation-all these are worse than death.

6There is grief of heart and sorrow when a wife is envious of a rival,

and a tongue-lashing makes it known to all.

7An evil wife is an ox yoke which chafes;

taking hold of her is like grasping a scorpion.

8There is great anger when a wife is drunken;

she will not hide her shame.

9A wife's harlotry shows in her lustful eyes,

and she is known by her eyelids.

10Keep strict watch over a headstrong daughter,

lest, when she finds liberty, she use it to her hurt.

11Be on guard against her impudent eye,

and do not wonder if she sins against you.

12As a thirsty wayfarer opens his mouth

and drinks from any water near him,

so will she sit in front of every post

and open her quiver to the arrow.

The Blessing of a Good Wife

13A wife's charm delights her husband,

and her skill puts fat on his bones.

14A silent wife is a gift of the Lord,

and there is nothing so precious as a disciplined soul.

15A modest wife adds charm to charm,

and no balance can weigh the value of a chaste soul.

16Like the sun rising in the heights of the Lord,

so is the beauty of a good wife in her well-ordered home.

17Like the shining lamp on the holy lampstand,

so is a beautiful face on a stately figure.

18Like pillars of gold on a base of silver,

so are beautiful feet with a steadfast heart.b

Three Depressing Things

28At two things my heart is grieved,

and because of a third anger comes over me:

a warrior in want through poverty,

and intelligent men who are treated contemptuously;

a man who turns back from righteousness to sin-

the Lord will prepare him for the sword!

The Temptations of Commerce

29A merchant can hardly keep from wrongdoing,

and a tradesman will not be declared innocent of sin.