Sirach 26 Revised Version with Apocrypha

261 Happy is the husband of a good wife; And the number of his days shall be twofold. 2 A brave woman rejoiceth her husband; And he shall fulfil his years in peace. 3 A good wife is a good portion: She shall be given in the portion of such as fear the Lord. 4 Whether a man be rich or poor, A good heart [maketh ] at all times a cheerful countenance. 5 Of three things my heart was afraid; And concerning the fourth kind I made supplication: The slander of a city, and the assembly of a multitude, and a false accusation: All these are more grievous than death. 6 A grief of heart and sorrow is a woman that is jealous of [another ] woman, And the scourge of a tongue communicating to all. 7 A wicked woman is [as ] a yoke of oxen shaken to and fro: He that taketh hold of her is as one that graspeth a scorpion. 8 A drunken woman [causeth ] great wrath; And she will not cover her own shame. 9 The whoredom of a woman is in the lifting up of her eyes; And it shall be known by her eyelids. 10 Keep strict watch on a headstrong daughter, Lest she find liberty for herself, and use it. 11 Look well after an impudent eye; And marvel not if it trespass against thee. 12 She will open her mouth, as a thirsty traveller, And drink of every water that is near: At every post will she sit down, And open her quiver against [any ] arrow. 13 The grace of a wife will delight her husband; And her knowledge will fatten his bones. 14 A silent woman is a gift of the Lord; And there is nothing so much worth as a well-instructed soul. 15 A shamefast woman is grace upon grace; And there is no price worthy of a continent soul. 16 As the sun when it ariseth in the highest places of the Lord, So is the beauty of a good wife in the ordering of a man’s house. 17 As the lamp that shineth upon the holy candlestick, So is the beauty of the face in ripe age. 18 As the golden pillars are upon a base of silver, So are beautiful feet with the breasts of one that is stedfast. 19 Not in this translation 28 For two things my heart is grieved; And for the third anger cometh upon me: A man of war that suffereth for poverty; And men of understanding that are counted as refuse: One that turneth back from righteousness to sin; The Lord shall prepare him for the sword. 29 A merchant shall hardly keep himself from wrong doing; And a huckster shall not be acquitted of sin.