The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus 26

1 Blessed is the man that hath a virtuous wife for the number of his days shall be double

2 A virtuous woman rejoiceth her husband and he shall fulfil the years of his life in peace

3 A good wife is a good portion which shall be given in the portion of them that fear the Lord

4 Whether 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

5 There 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

6 But 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

7 An evil wife is a yoke shaken to and fro he that hath hold of her is as though he held a scorpion

8 A drunken woman and a gadder abroad causeth great anger and she will not cover her own shame

9 The whoredom of a woman may be known in her haughty looks and eyelids

10 If thy daughter be shameless keep her in straitly lest she abuse herself through overmuch liberty

11 Watch over an impudent eye and marvel not if she trespass against thee

12 She 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

13 The grace of a wife delighteth her husband and her discretion will fatten his bones

14 A silent and loving woman is a gift of the Lord and there is nothing so much worth as a mind well instructed

15 A shamefaced and faithful woman is a double grace and her continent mind cannot be valued

16 As the sun when it ariseth in the high heaven so is the beauty of a good wife in the ordering of her house

17 As the clear light is upon the holy candlestick so is the beauty of the face in ripe age

18 As the golden pillars are upon the sockets of silver so are the fair feet with a constant heart

19 My son keep the flower of thine age sound and give not thy strength to strangers

20 When thou hast gotten a fruitful possession through all the field sow it with thine own seed trusting in the goodness of thy stock

21 So thy race which thou leavest shall be magnified having the confidence of their good descent

22 An harlot shall be accounted as spittle but a married woman is a tower against death to her husband

23 A wicked woman is given as a portion to a wicked man but a godly woman is given to him that feareth the Lord

24 A dishonest woman contemneth shame but an honest woman will reverence her husband

25 A shameless woman shall be counted as a dog but she that is shamefaced will fear the Lord

26 A 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

27 A loud crying woman and a scold shall be sought out to drive away the enemies

28 There 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

29 A merchant shall hardly keep himself from doing wrong and an huckster shall not be freed from sin