The King James Version Bible

Sirach 26:5-22

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

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

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

  5. The whoredom of a woman may be known in her haughty looks and eyelids.

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

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

  8. 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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