Ecclesiasticus (Sirach)

26:1 Blessed is the man that hath a vertuous wife, for the number of his dayes shall be double.

26:1 Blessed is the man that hath a virtuous wife, for the number of his days shall be double.

26:2 A vertuous woman reioyceth her husband, and he shall fulfill the yeeres of his life in peace.

26:2 A virtuous woman rejoiceth her husband, and he shall fulfil the years of his life in peace.

26:3 A good wife is a good portion, which shall be giuen in the portion of them that feare the Lord.

26:3 A good wife is a good portion, which shall be given in the portion of them that fear the Lord.

26:4 Whether a man be rich or poore, if he haue a good heart towards the Lord, he shall at all times reioyce with a cheerefull countenance.

26:4 Whether a man be rich or poor, if he have a good heart toward the Lord, he shall at all times rejoice with a cheerful countenance.

26:5 There bee three things that mine heart feareth: and for the fourth I was sore afraid: the slander of a citie, the gathering together of an vnruly multitude, and a false accusation: all these are worse then death.

26:5 There be three things that mine heart feareth; and for the fourth I was sore afraid: the slander of a city, the gathering together of an unruly multitude, and a false accusation: all these are worse than death.

26:6 But a griefe of heart and sorrow, is a woman that is ielous ouer another woman, and a scourge of the tongue which communicateth withall.

26:6 But a grief of heart and sorrow is a woman that is jealous over another woman, and a scourge of the tongue which communicateth with all.

26:7 An euil wife is a yoke shaken to and fro: he that hath hold of her, is as though he held a scorpion.

26:7 An evil wife is a yoke shaken to and fro: he that hath hold of her is as though he held a scorpion.

26:8 A drunken woman and a gadder abroad, causeth great anger, and shee will not couer her owne shame.

26:8 A drunken woman and a gadder abroad causeth great anger, and she will not cover her own shame.

26:9 The whordome of a woman may be knowen in her haughtie lookes, and eye lids.

26:9 The whoredom of a woman may be known in her haughty looks and eyelids.

26:10 If thy daughter be shamelesse, keepe her in straitly: lest she abuse her selfe through ouermuch libertie.

26:10 If thy daughter be shameless, keep her in straitly, lest she abuse herself through overmuch liberty.

26:11 Watch ouer an impudent eye: and marueile not, if shee trespasse against thee.

26:11 Watch over an impudent eye: and marvel not if she trespass against thee.

26:12 Shee will open her mouth as a thirstie traueiler, when he hath found a fountaine: and drinke of euery water neere her: by euery hedge will she sit downe, and open her quiuer against euery arrow.

26:12 She will open her mouth, as a thirsty traveller when he hath found a fountain, and drink of every water near her: by every hedge will she sit down, and open her quiver against every arrow.

26:13 The grace of a wife delighteth her husband, and her discretion will fat his bones.

26:13 The grace of a wife delighteth her husband, and her discretion will fatten his bones.

26:14 A silent and louing woman is a gift of the Lord, and there is nothing so much worth, as a mind well instructed.

26:14 A silent and loving woman is a gift of the Lord; and there is nothing so much worth as a mind well instructed.

26:15 A shamefast and faithfull woman is a double grace, and her continent mind cannot be valued.

26:15 A shamefaced and faithful woman is a double grace, and her continent mind cannot be valued.

26:16 As the Sunne when it ariseth in the high heauen: so is the beautie of a good wife in the ordering of her house.

26:16 As the sun when it ariseth in the high heaven; so is the beauty of a good wife in the ordering of her house.

26:17 As the cleare light is vpon the holy candlesticke: so is the beautie of the face in ripe age.

26:17 As the clear light is upon the holy candlestick; so is the beauty of the face in ripe age.

26:18 As the golden pillars are vpon the sockets of siluer: so are the faire feete with a constant heart.

26:18 As the golden pillars are upon the sockets of silver; so are the fair feet with a constant heart.

26:19 My sonne, keepe the flowre of thine age sound: and giue not thy strength to strangers.

26:19 My son, keep the flower of thine age sound; and give not thy strength to strangers.

26:20 When thou hast gotten a fruitfull possession through all the field: sowe it with thine owne seede, trusting in the goodnesse of thy stocke.

26:20 When thou hast gotten a fruitful possession through all the field, sow it with thine own seed, trusting in the goodness of thy stock.

26:21 So thy race which thou leauest shalbe magnified, hauing the confidence of their good descent.

26:21 So thy race which thou leavest shall be magnified, having the confidence of their good descent.

26:22 An harlot shall bee accounted as spittle: but a maried woman is a towre against death to her husband.

26:22 An harlot shall be accounted as spittle; but a married woman is a tower against death to her husband.

26:23 A wicked woman is giuen as a portion to a wicked man: but a godly woman is giuen to him that feareth the Lord.

26:23 A wicked woman is given as a portion to a wicked man: but a godly woman is given to him that feareth the Lord.

26:24 A dishonest woman contemneth shame, but an honest woman will reuerence her husband.

26:24 A dishonest woman contemneth shame: but an honest woman will reverence her husband.

26:25 A shamelesse woman shalbe counted as a dog: but she that is shamefast will feare the Lord.

26:25 A shameless woman shall be counted as a dog; but she that is shamefaced will fear the Lord.

26:26 A woman that honoureth her husband, shall bee iudged wise of all: but she that dishonoureth him in her pride, shall be counted vngodly of all.

26:26 A woman that honoureth her husband shall be judged wise of all; but she that dishonoureth him in her pride shall be counted ungodly of all.

26:27 A loude crying woman, and a scolde, shall be sought out to driue away the enemies.

26:27 A loud crying woman and a scold shall be sought out to drive away the enemies.

26:28 There be two things that grieue my heart: and the third maketh me angry: a man of warre that suffereth pouerty, and men of vnderstanding that are not set by: and one that returneth from righteousnesse to sinne: the Lord prepareth such a one for the sword.

26:28 There be two things that grieve my heart; and the third maketh me angry: a man of war that suffereth poverty; and men of understanding that are not set by; and one that returneth from righteousness to sin; the Lord prepareth such an one for the sword.

26:29 A merchant shall hardly keepe himselfe from doing wrong: and an huckster shall not be freed from sinne.

26:29 A merchant shall hardly keep himself from doing wrong; and an huckster shall not be freed from sin.