Those Who Are Worthy of Praise

1I take pleasure in three things,

and they are beautiful in the sight of God and of mortals:25.1 Syr Lat: Gk In three things I was beautiful and I stood in beauty before the Lord and mortals.

agreement among brothers and sisters, friendship among neighbours,

and a wife and husband who live in harmony.

2I hate three kinds of people,

and I loathe their manner of life:

a pauper who boasts, a rich person who lies,

and an old fool who commits adultery.

3If you gathered nothing in your youth,

how can you find anything in your old age?

4How attractive is sound judgement in the grey-haired,

and for the aged to possess good counsel!

5How attractive is wisdom in the aged,

and understanding and counsel in the venerable!

6Rich experience is the crown of the aged,

and their boast is the fear of the Lord.

7I can think of nine whom I would call blessed,

and a tenth my tongue proclaims:

a man who can rejoice in his children;

a man who lives to see the downfall of his foes.

8Happy the man who lives with a sensible wife,

and one who does not plough with ox and ass together.25.8 Heb Syr: Gk lacks and one who does not plough with ox and ass together

Happy is one who does not sin with the tongue,

and one who has not served an inferior.

9Happy is one who finds a friend,25.9 Lat Syr: Gk good sense

and one who speaks to attentive listeners.

10How great is one who finds wisdom!

But none is superior to one who fears the Lord.

11Fear of the Lord surpasses everything;

to whom can we compare one who has it?25.11 Other ancient authorities add as verse 12, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of love for him, and faith is the beginning of clinging to him.

Some Extreme Forms of Evil

13Any wound, but not a wound of the heart!

Any wickedness, but not the wickedness of a woman!

14Any suffering, but not suffering from those who hate!

And any vengeance, but not the vengeance of enemies!

15There is no venom25.15 Syr: Gk head worse than a snake's venom,25.15 Syr: Gk head

and no anger worse than a woman's25.15 Other ancient authorities read an enemy's wrath.

The Evil of a Wicked Woman

16I would rather live with a lion and a dragon

than live with an evil woman.

17A woman's wickedness changes her appearance,

and darkens her face like that of a bear.

18Her husband sits25.18 Heb Syr: Gk loses heart among the neighbours,

and he cannot help sighing25.18 Other ancient authorities read and listening he sighs bitterly.

19Any iniquity is small compared to a woman's iniquity;

may a sinner's lot befall her!

20A sandy ascent for the feet of the aged—

such is a garrulous wife to a quiet husband.

21Do not be ensnared by a woman's beauty,

and do not desire a woman for her possessions.25.21 Heb Syr: Other Gk authorities read for her beauty

22There is wrath and impudence and great disgrace

when a wife supports her husband.

23Dejected mind, gloomy face,

and wounded heart come from an evil wife.

Drooping hands and weak knees

come from the wife who does not make her husband happy.

24From a woman sin had its beginning,

and because of her we all die.

25Allow no outlet to water,

and no boldness of speech to an evil wife.

26If she does not go as you direct,

separate her from yourself.