Chapter Twenty-Five

Love among people adorns wisdom; arrogance, falsehood, licentiousness – mock it. The crown of the aged is broad experience, and their praise is the fear of the Lord. No head is more poisonous than a serpent’s head; no rage stronger than the rage of an enemy. One can bear any wound except a heart wound; any malice except a woman’s malice. Sin began from a woman, and through her we all die.

Sirach 25:1. “Three things have I adorned myself with and become beautiful before the Lord and people: Sirach 25:2. “This – harmony between brothers and love between neighbors, and a wife and husband living in agreement with one another. Sirach 25:3. “And three kinds of people my soul has hated, and their life is very abominable to me: Sirach 25:4. “The arrogant poor, the lying rich man, and the old man-adulterer, who lacks understanding. Sirach 25:5. “What did you not gather in your youth – how then can you acquire it in your old age? Sirach 25:6. “How befitting gray hair to judge, and for the aged to know how to give counsel! Sirach 25:7. “How beautiful is the wisdom of the aged and how fitting for respectable people discretion and counsel! Sirach 25:8. “The crown of the aged is broad experience, and the praise of them is the fear of the Lord. Sirach 25:9. “Nine thoughts have I praised in my heart, and the tenth I will declare with my tongue: Sirach 25:10. “This is a man who rejoices over his children and in his lifetime sees the downfall of his enemies. Sirach 25:11. “Blessed is he who lives with a wise wife, who does not sin with his tongue and does not serve one unworthy of him. Sirach 25:12. “Blessed is he who has acquired wisdom and conveys it to the ears of those who listen. Sirach 25:13. “How great is he who has found wisdom! but he is not higher than one who fears the Lord. Sirach 25:14. “The fear of the Lord surpasses all things, and with whom can the one who possesses it be compared? Sirach 25:15. “One can bear any wound except a heart wound, and any malice except a woman’s malice, Sirach 25:16. “any attack except an attack from those who hate, and any revenge except the revenge of enemies; Sirach 25:17. “There is no head more poisonous than a serpent’s head, and no rage stronger than the rage of an enemy. Sirach 25:18. “I would rather dwell with a lion and dragon than dwell with an evil woman. Sirach 25:19. “A woman’s malice changes her appearance and makes her face dark like a bear’s. Sirach 25:20. “Her husband sits among his friends and, hearing of her, sighs bitterly. Sirach 25:21. “All malice is small in comparison with a woman’s malice; the lot of a sinner may fall upon her. “21. The lot of a sinner may fall upon her – that is, the fate of a sinner may befall her.”

Sirach 25:22. “What climbing through deep sand is to the feet of an old man, such is a quarrelsome wife to a peaceful husband. “22. For a peaceful husband, quieting and persuading his quarrelsome wife is just as difficult as climbing through deep sand for the feet of an old man.”

Sirach 25:23. “Do not stare at a woman’s beauty and do not lust for a wife. Sirach 25:24. “Great shame and disgrace – when a woman will prevail over her husband. Sirach 25:25. “A downcast heart and a sad face and a heart wound – an evil woman. Sirach 25:26. “Drooping hands and slack knees – a woman who does not make her husband happy. “26. A woman who does not make her husband happy is a spiritual and physical paralysis that causes a man to fall both physically and morally.”

Sirach 25:27. “Sin began from a woman, and through her we all die. “27. See Gen 3.”

Sirach 25:28. “Do not give water an outlet, nor an evil woman – power; Sirach 25:29. “if she does not walk under your hand, then cut her off from your flesh. “29. Cut her off from your flesh – that is, divorce her.”