Open English Translation SIR Chapter 25

25 I enjoy three things,

and they’re beautiful before the master and men:

the agreement of kindred,

the friendship of neighbours,

and a woman and her husband who walk together in agreement.

2 But my soul hates three sorts of people,

and I’m greatly offended at their life:

a poor man who’s arrogant,

a rich man who’s a liar,

and an old fool who’s an adulterer.

3 If you gathered nothing in your youth,

how could you find anything in your old age?

4 How beautiful a thing is judgement in the grey-haired,

and for elders to know good counsel!

5 How beautiful is the wisdom of old men,

and understanding and counsel to men who are in honour!

6 Much experience is the crown of the aged.

Their glory is the fear of the master.

7 There are nine things that I’ve thought of, and in my heart counted happy,

and the tenth I’ll utter with my tongue:

a man who has joy with his children,

and a man who lives and sees the fall of his enemies.

8 Happy is he who lives with a wife of understanding,

he who hasn’t slipped with his tongue,

and he who hasn’t served a man who’s unworthy of him.

9 Happy is he who’s found prudence,

and he who speaks in the ears of those who listen.

10 How great is he who’s found wisdom!

Yet is there none above him who fears the master.

11 The fear of the master surpasses all things.

Who can someone who holds it be compared to? 12 [fn]

13 Any wound but a wound of the heart!

Any wickedness but the wickedness of a woman!

14 Any calamity but a calamity from those who hate me!

Any vengeance but the vengeance of enemies!

15 There’s no venom worse than a snake’s venom.

There’s no anger worse than an enemy’s anger.

16 I’d rather live with a lion and a dragon

than keep house with a wicked woman.

17 The wickedness of a woman changes her appearance,

and darkens her face like that of a bear.

18 Her husband will sit among his neighbours,

and when he hears it, he sighs bitterly.

19 All malice is small compared to the malice of a woman.

Let the portion of a sinner fall on her.

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.

21 Don’t be ensnared by a woman’s beauty.

Don’t desire a woman for her beauty.

22 There’s anger, impudence, and great reproach

if a woman supports her husband.

23 A wicked woman is abasement of heart,

a sad expression, and a wounded heart.

A woman who won’t make her husband happy

is like hands that hang down, and weak knees.

24 The beginning of sin came from a woman.

Because of her, we all die.

25 Don’t give water an outlet,

and don’t give a wicked woman freedom of speech.

26 If she doesn’t go as you direct,

cut her away from your flesh.[fn]