Sirach 26
Chapter 26 of 51
1 Happy the husband of a good wife; the number of his days will be doubled.
2 A loyal wife brings joy to her husband, and he will finish his years in peace.
3 A good wife is a generous gift bestowed upon him who fears the Lord.
4 Whether rich or poor, his heart is content, a smile ever on his face.
5 There are three things I dread, and a fourth which terrifies me: Public slander, the gathering of a mob, and false accusation—all harder to bear than death.
6 A wife jealous of another wife is heartache and mourning; everyone feels the lash of her tongue.
7 A wicked wife is a chafing yoke; taking hold of her is like grasping a scorpion.
8 A drunken wife arouses great anger, for she does not hide her shame.
9 By her haughty stare and her eyelids an unchaste wife can be recognized.
10 Keep a strict watch over an unruly wife, lest, finding an opportunity, she use it;
11 Watch out for her impudent eye, and do not be surprised if she betrays you:
12 As a thirsty traveler opens his mouth and drinks from any water nearby, So she sits down before every tent peg and opens her quiver for every arrow.
13 A gracious wife delights her husband; her thoughtfulness puts flesh on his bones.
14 A silent wife is a gift from the Lord; nothing is worth more than her self-discipline.
15 A modest wife is a supreme blessing; no scales can weigh the worth of her chastity.
16 The sun rising in the Lord’s heavens— the beauty of a good wife in her well-ordered home.
17 The light which shines above the holy lampstand— a beautiful face on a stately figure.
18 Golden columns on silver bases— so her shapely legs and steady feet. Dangers to Integrity and Friendship
28 Two things bring grief to my heart, and a third arouses my anger: The wealthy reduced to want, the intelligent held in contempt, And those who pass from righteousness to sin— the Lord prepares them for the sword.
29 A merchant can hardly keep from wrongdoing, nor can a shopkeeper stay free from sin;