Sirach 26 Clementine Vulgate
1 [Mulieris bonæ beatus vir: numerus enim annorum illius duplex.
1 Happy is the husband of a good wife. The number of his days will be doubled.
2 Mulier fortis oblectat virum suum, et annos vitæ illius in pace implebit.
2 A faithful wife gives joy to her husband. He will fulfill his years in peace.
3 Pars bona mulier bona, in parte timentium Deum dabitur viro pro factis bonis:
3 A good wife is a great gift. She will be given to those who fear the Lord.
4 divitis autem et pauperis cor bonum, in omni tempore vultus illorum hilaris.
4 Whether a man is rich or poor, a good heart makes a cheerful face at all times.
5 A tribus timuit cor meum, et in quarto facies mea metuit:
5 Of three things my heart was afraid, and concerning the fourth kind I made supplication: The slander of a city, the assembly of a mob, and a false accusation. All these are more grievous than death.
6 delaturam civitatis, et collectionem populi:
6 A grief of heart and sorrow is a woman who is jealous of another woman. Her tongue-lashing makes it known to all.
7 calumniam mendacem super mortem omnia gravia:
7 A wicked woman is like a chafing yoke. He who takes hold of her is like one who grasps a scorpion.
8 dolor cordis et luctus, mulier zelotypa.
8 A drunken woman causes great wrath. She will not cover her own shame.
9 In muliere zelotypa flagellum linguæ, omnibus communicans.
9 The fornication of a woman is in the lifting up of her eyes; it will be known by her eyelids.
10 Sicut boum jugum quod movetur, ita et mulier nequam: qui tenet illam quasi qui apprehendit scorpionem.
10 Keep strict watch on a headstrong daughter, lest she find liberty for herself, and use it.
11 Mulier ebriosa ira magna, et contumelia: et turpitudo illius non tegetur.
11 Watch out for an impudent eye, and don’t be surprised if it sins against you.
12 Fornicatio mulieris in extollentia oculorum, et in palpebris illius agnoscetur.
12 She will open her mouth like a thirsty traveller, and drink from every water that is near. She will sit down at every post, and open her quiver to any arrow.
13 In filia non avertente se, firma custodiam, ne inventa occasione utatur se.
13 The grace of a wife will delight her husband. Her knowledge will strengthen his bones.
14 Ab omni irreverentia oculorum ejus cave, et ne mireris si te neglexerit.
14 A silent woman is a gift of the Lord. There is nothing worth so much as a well-instructed soul.
15 Sicut viator sitiens ad fontem os aperiet, et ab omni aqua proxima bibet, et contra omnem palum sedebit, et contra omnem sagittam aperiet pharetram donec deficiat.
15 A modest woman is grace upon grace. There are no scales that can weigh the value of a self-controlled soul.
16 Gratia mulieris sedulæ delectabit virum suum, et ossa illius impinguabit.
16 As the sun when it arises in the highest places of the Lord, so is the beauty of a good wife in her well-organized home.
17 Disciplina illius datum Dei est.
17 As the lamp that shines upon the holy lampstand, so is the beauty of the face on a well-proportioned body.
18 Mulier sensata et tacita, non est immutatio eruditæ animæ.
18 As the golden pillars are upon a base of silver, so are beautiful feet with the breasts of one who is steadfast.
19 Gratia super gratiam mulier sancta et pudorata.
19 Not in this translation
20 Omnis autem ponderatio non est digna continentis animæ.
20 Not in this translation
21 Sicut sol oriens mundo in altissimis Dei, sic mulieris bonæ species in ornamentum domus ejus.
21 Not in this translation
22 Lucerna splendens super candelabrum sanctum, et species faciei super ætatem stabilem.
22 Not in this translation
23 Columnæ aureæ super bases argenteas, et pedes firmi super plantas stabilis mulieris.
23 Not in this translation
24 Fundamenta æterna supra petram solidam, et mandata Dei in corde mulieris sanctæ.]
24 Not in this translation
25 [In duobus contristatum est cor meum, et in tertio iracundia mihi advenit:
25 Not in this translation
26 vir bellator deficiens per inopiam; et vir sensatus contemptus;
26 Not in this translation
27 et qui transgreditur a justitia ad peccatum: Deus paravit eum ad rhomphæam.]
27 Not in this translation
28 [Duæ species difficiles et periculosæ mihi apparuerunt: difficile exuitur negotians a negligentia, et non justificabitur caupo a peccatis labiorum.]
28 For two things my heart is grieved, and for the third anger comes upon me: a warrior who suffers for poverty, men of understanding who are counted as garbage, and one who turns back from righteousness to sin— the Lord will prepare him for the sword! 29 It is difficult for a merchant to keep himself from wrong doing, and for a retailer to be acquitted of sin.