1 I enjoy three things, and they are beautiful before the Lord and men: the agreement of kindred, the friendship of neighbors, and a woman and her husband who walk together in agreement. (WEB) 2 But my soul hates three sorts of people, and I am greatly offended at their life: a poor man who is arrogant, a rich man who is a liar, and an old fool who is an adulterer. (WEB) 3 If you gathered nothing in your youth, how could you find anything in your old age? (WEB) 4 How beautiful a thing is judgment in the gray-haired, and for elders to know good counsel! (WEB) 5 How beautiful is the wisdom of old men, and understanding and counsel to men who are in honor! (WEB) 6 Much experience is the crown of the aged. Their glory is the fear of the Lord. (WEB) 7 There are nine things that I have thought of, and in my heart counted happy, and the tenth I will utter with my tongue: a man who has joy with his children, and a man who lives and sees the fall of his enemies. (WEB) 8 Happy is he who dwells with a wife of understanding, he who has not slipped with his tongue, and he who has not served a man who is unworthy of him. (WEB) 9 Happy is he who has found prudence, and he who speaks in the ears of those who listen. (WEB) 10 How great is he who has found wisdom! Yet there is none greater than one who fears the Lord. (WEB) 11 The fear of the Lord surpasses all things. To whom shall he who holds it be likened? (WEB) 12 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of his love: and faith is the beginning of cleaving unto him. (KJV) 13 Any wound but a wound of the heart! Any wickedness but the wickedness of a woman! (WEB) 14 Any calamity but a calamity from those who hate me! Any vengeance but the vengeance of enemies! (WEB) 15 There is no venom worse than a snake’s venom. There is no wrath worse than an enemy’s wrath. (WEB) 16 I would rather dwell with a lion and a dragon than keep house with a wicked woman. (WEB) 17 The wickedness of a woman changes her appearance, and darkens her countenance like that of a bear. (WEB) 18 Her husband will sit among his neighbors, and when he hears it, he sighs bitterly. (WEB) 19 All malice is small compared to the malice of a woman. Let the portion of a sinner fall on her. (WEB) 20 As walking up a sandy hill is to the feet of the aged, so is a wife full of words to a quiet man. (WEB) 21 Don’t be ensnared by a woman’s beauty. Don’t desire a woman for her beauty. (WEB) 22 There is anger, impudence, and great reproach if a woman supports her husband. (WEB) 23 A wicked woman is abasement of heart, sadness of countenance, and a wounded heart. A woman who won’t make her husband happy is like hands that hang down, and weak knees. (WEB) 24 The beginning of sin came from a woman. Because of her, we all die. (WEB) 25 Don’t give water an outlet, and don’t give a wicked woman freedom of… (WEB)
Sirach 25:1–26
Semantically similar passages
Sirach 9:1–3
1 Don’t be jealous over the wife of your bosom, and don’t teach her an evil lesson against yourself. (WEB) 2 Don’t give your soul to a woman and let her trample down your strength. (WEB) 3 Don’t go to meet a woman who plays the prostitute, lest perhaps you fall into her snares. (WEB)
Sirach 26:6–8
6 A grief of heart and sorrow is a woman who is jealous of another woman. Her tongue-lashing makes it known to all. (WEB) 7 A wicked woman is like a chafing yoke. He who takes hold of her is like one who grasps a scorpion. (WEB) 8 A drunken woman causes great wrath. She will not… (WEB)
Proverbs 31:2–4
2 What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows? 3 Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings. 4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
Sirach 42:13–15
13 For from garments comes a moth, and from a woman comes a woman’s wickedness. (WEB) 14 Better is the wickedness of a man than a pleasant woman, a woman who puts you to shame and disgrace. (WEB) 15 I will make mention now of the works of the Lord, and will declare the things that… (WEB)
Sirach 7:18–20
18 Don’t exchange a friend for something, neither a true brother for the gold of Ophir. (WEB) 19 Don’t deprive yourself of a wise and good wife, for her grace is worth more than gold. (WEB) 20 Don’t abuse a servant who works faithfully, or a hireling who gives you his life. (WEB)
Proverbs 21:18–20
18 The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright. 19 Better to live in the desert than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife. 20 Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them.
Sirach 10:17–19
17 He took some of them away and destroyed them, and made their memory to cease from the earth. (WEB) 18 Pride has not been created for men, nor wrathful anger for the offspring of women. (WEB) 19 Whose offspring has honor? Human offspring who fear the Lord. Whose offspring has no… (WEB)
Proverbs 12:3–5
3 A man cannot be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted. 4 A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but she who causes shame is like decay in his bones. 5 The plans of the righteous are just, but the counsel of the wicked leads…
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