Sirach 25

1In three things I was made beautiful, and I stood beautiful before the Lord and men:

2Three things my soul has hated, and I am greatly distressed by their lives:

3A poor man who is proud, and a rich man who lies, and an old man who commits adultery and lacks sense.

4If you did not gather in your youth, how then would you find anything in your old age?

5If you did not desire them in your youth, how will you attain them in your old age?

6How beautiful is wisdom in the aged, and understanding and counsel in those who are honored.

7The crown of the aged is much experience, and their boast is the fear of the Lord.

8Happy is the man who has not stumbled with his tongue, and has not served one more contemptible than himself.

9Blessed is the man who lives with an intelligent wife, and who has not slipped with his tongue, and who has not served one unworthy of him.

10Blessed is the one who has found wisdom, and the one who speaks in the ears of those who hear.

11Happy is the husband of a prudent wife, and who does not plow with an ox and a donkey together.

12The fear of the Lord surpasses everything; to whom will the one who holds fast to it be compared?

13Any wound, but not like a wound of the heart; any evil, but not like the evil of a woman.

14Any wound, but not the wound of those who hate; and any vengeance, but not the vengeance of enemies.

15There is no head above the head of a snake, and there is no wrath above the wrath of an enemy.

16I would rather live with a lion and a dragon than dwell with a wicked woman.

17A woman's evil darkens a man's appearance, and makes his face gloomy like a bear.

18Her husband sits among his companions, and without sense he groans.

19Any evil is small compared with the evil of a woman; may the lot of a sinner fall upon her.

20Like a sandy ascent under the feet of an old man, so is a sharp-tongued wife to a gentle man.

21Do not fall for a woman's beauty, and do not desire a woman for what she has.

22For because of her there is reproach and shame, when a wife supports her husband.

23Slack hands and failing knees: a wife who does not bless her husband.

24From a woman is the beginning of sin, and because of her we all die together.

25A bad wife is leprosy to her husband; let him drive her out of his house, and he will be healed of his leprosy.

26If she does not go according to your hand, cut her off from your flesh.