(ECCLESIASTICUS, OR THE WISDOM OF JESUS, SON OF SIRACH)
Chapter 25
1: I take pleasure in three things, and they are beautiful in the sight of God and of mortals: agreement among brothers and sisters, friendship among neighbours, and a wife and husband who live in harmony.
2: I hate three kinds of people, and I loathe their manner of life: a pauper who boasts, a rich person who lies, and an old fool who commits adultery.
3: If you gathered nothing in your youth, how can you find anything in your old age?
4: How attractive is sound judgement in the grey-haired, and for the aged to possess good counsel!
5: How attractive is wisdom in the aged, and understanding and counsel in the venerable!
6: Rich experience is the crown of the aged, and their boast is the fear of the Lord.
7: I can think of nine whom I would call blessed, and a tenth my tongue proclaims: a man who can rejoice in his children; a man who lives to see the downfall of his foes.
8: Happy the man who lives with a sensible wife, and one who does not plough with ox and ass together. Happy is one who does not sin with the tongue, and one who has not served an inferior.
9: Happy is one who finds a friend, and one who speaks to attentive listeners.
10: How great is one who finds wisdom! But none is superior to one who fears the Lord.
11: Fear of the Lord surpasses everything; to whom can we compare one who has it?
Some Extreme Forms of Evil
13: Any wound, but not a wound of the heart! Any wickedness, but not the wickedness of a woman!
14: Any suffering, but not suffering from those who hate! And any vengeance, but not the vengeance of enemies!
15: There is no venom worse than a snake’s venom, and no anger worse than a woman’s wrath.
The Evil of a Wicked Woman
16: I would rather live with a lion and a dragon than live with an evil woman.
17: A woman’s wickedness changes her appearance, and darkens her face like that of a bear.
18: Her husband sits among the neighbours, and he cannot help sighing bitterly.
19: Any iniquity is small compared to a woman’s iniquity; may a sinner’s lot befall her!
20: A sandy ascent for the feet of the aged - such is a garrulous wife to a quiet husband.
21: Do not be ensnared by a woman’s beauty, and do not desire a woman for her possessions.
22: There is wrath and impudence and great disgrace when a wife supports her husband.
23: Dejected mind, gloomy face, and wounded heart come from an evil wife. Drooping hands and weak knees come from the wife who does not make her husband happy.
24: From a woman sin had its beginning, and because of her we all die.
25: Allow no outlet to water and no boldness of speech to an evil wife.
26: If she does not go as you direct, separate her from yourself.
Chapter 26
1: Happy is the husband of a good wife; the number of his days will be doubled.
2: A loyal wife brings joy to her husband, and he will complete his years in peace.
3: A good wife is a great blessing; she will be granted among the blessings of the man who fears the Lord.
4: Whether rich or poor, his heart is content, and at all times his face is cheerful.
The Worst of Evils: A Wicked Wife
5: Of three things my heart is frightened, and of a fourth I am in great fear: Slander in the city, the gathering of a mob, and false accusation - all these are worse than death.
6: But it is heartache and sorrow when a wife is jealous of a rival, and a tongue-lashing makes it known to all.
7: A bad wife is a chafing yoke; taking hold of her is like grasping a scorpion.
8: A drunken wife arouses great anger; she cannot hide her shame.
9: The haughty stare betrays an unchaste wife; her eyelids give her away.
10: Keep strict watch over a headstrong daughter, or else, when she finds liberty, she will make use of it.
11: Be on guard against her impudent eye, and do not be surprised if she sins against you.
12: As a thirsty traveler opens his mouth and drinks from any water near him, so she will sit in front of every tent-peg and open her quiver to the arrow.
The Blessing of a Good Wife
13: A wife’s charm delights her husband, and her skill puts flesh on his bones.
14: A silent wife is a gift from the Lord, and nothing is so precious as her self-discipline.
15: A modest wife adds charm to charm, and no scales can weigh the value of her chastity.
16: Like the sun rising in the heights of the Lord, so is the beauty of a good wife in her well-ordered home.
17: Like the shining lamp on the holy lampstand, so is a beautiful face on a stately figure.
18: Like golden pillars on silver bases, so are shapely legs and steadfast feet.
(Other ancient authorities add verses 19:-27)
19: My child, keep sound the bloom of your youth, and do not give your strength to strangers.
20: Seek a fertile field within the whole plain, and sow it with your own seed, trusting in your fine stock.
21: So your offspring will prosper, and, having confidence in their good descent, will grow great.
22: A prostitute is regarded as spittle, and a married woman as a tower of death to her lovers.
23: A godless wife is given as a portion to a lawless man, but a pious wife is given to the man who fears the Lord.
24: A shameless woman constantly acts disgracefully, but a modest daughter will even be embarrassed before her husband.
25: A headstrong wife is regarded as a dog, but one who has a sense of shame will fear the Lord.
26: A wife honouring her husband will seem wise to all, but if she dishonours him in her pride she will be known to all as ungodly. Happy is the husband of a good wife, for the number of his years will be doubled.
Chapter 27
2: As a stake is driven firmly into a fissure between stones, so sin is wedged in between selling and buying.
3: If a person is not steadfast in the fear of the Lord, his house will be quickly overthrown.
4: When a sieve is shaken, the refuse appears; so do a person’s faults when he speaks.
5: The kiln tests the potter’s vessels; so the test of a person is in his conversation.
6: Its fruit discloses the cultivation of a tree; so a person’s speech discloses the cultivation of his mind.
7: Do not praise anyone before he speaks, for this is the way people are tested.
8: If you pursue justice, you will attain it and wear it like a glorious robe.
9: Birds roost with their own kind, so honesty comes home to those who practise it.
10: A lion lies in wait for prey; so does sin for evildoers.
11: The conversation of the godly is always wise, but the fool changes like the moon.
12: Among stupid people limit your time, but among thoughtful people linger on.
13: The talk of fools is offensive, and their laughter is wantonly sinful.
14: Their cursing and swearing make one’s hair stand on end, and their quarrels make others stop their ears.
15: The strife of the proud leads to bloodshed and their abuse is grievous to hear.
16: Whoever betrays secrets destroys confidence, and will never find a congenial friend.
17: Love your friend and keep faith with him; but if you betray his secrets, do not follow after him.
18: For as a person destroys his enemy, so you have destroyed the friendship of your neighbour.
19: And as you allow a bird to escape from your hand,
so you have let your neighbour go, and will not catch him again.
20: Do not go after him, for he is too far off, and has escaped like a gazelle from a snare.
21: For a wound may be bandaged, and there is reconciliation after abuse, but whoever has betrayed secrets is without hope.
22: Whoever winks the eye plots mischief, and those who know him will keep their distance.
23: In your presence his mouth is all sweetness, and he admires your words; but later he will twist his speech and with your own words he will trip you up.
24: I have hated many things, but him above all; even the Lord hates him.
25: Whoever throws a stone straight up throws it on his own head, and a treacherous low opens up many wounds.
26: Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever sets a snare will be caught in it.
27: If a person does evil, it will roll back upon him, and he will not know where it came from.
28: Mockery and abuse issue from the proud, but vengeance lies in wait for them like a lion.
29: Those who rejoice in the fall of the godly will be caught in a snare, and pain will consume them before their death.
30: Anger and wrath, these also are abominations, yet a sinner holds on to them.
Chapter 28
2: Forgive your neighbour the wrong he has done, and then your sins will be pardoned when you pray.
3: Does anyone harbour anger against another, and expect healing from the Lord?
4: If someone has no mercy towards another like himself, can he then seek pardon for his own sins?
5: If a mere mortal harbours wrath, who will make an atoning sacrifice for his sins?
6: Remember the end of your life, and set enmity aside; remember corruption and death, and be true to the commandments.
7: Remember the commandments, and do not be angry with your neighbour; remember the covenant of the Most High, and overlook faults.
8: Refrain from strife, and your sins will be fewer; for the hot-tempered kindle strife,
9: and the sinner disrupts friendships and sows discord among those who are at peace.
10: In proportion to the fuel, so will the fire burn, and in proportion to the obstinacy, so will strife increase; in proportion to a person’s strength will be his anger, and in proportion to his wealth he will increase his wrath.
11: A hasty quarrel kindles a fire, and a hasty dispute sheds blood.
12: If you blow on a spark, it will glow; if you spit on it, it will be put out; yet both come out of your mouth.
13: Curse the gossips and the double-tongued, for they destroy the peace of many.
14: Slander has shaken many, and scattered them from nation to nation; it has destroyed strong cities, and overturned the houses of the great.
15: Slander has driven virtuous women from their homes, and deprived them of the fruit of their toil.
16: Those who pay heed to slander will not find rest, nor will they settle down in peace.
17: The blow of a whip raises a welt, but a blow of the tongue crushes the bones.
18: Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not as many as have fallen because of the tongue.
19: Happy is one who is protected from it, who has not been exposed to its anger, who has not borne its yoke, and has not been bound with its fetters.
20: For its yoke is a yoke of iron, and its fetters are fetters of bronze;
21: its death is an evil death, and Hades is preferable to it.
22: It has no power over the godly; they will not be burned in its flame.
23: Those who forsake the Lord will fall into its power; it will burn among them and will not be put out. It will be sent out against them like a lion; like a leopard it will mangle them.
24a: As you fence in your property with thorns,
25b: so make a door and a bolt for your mouth.
24b: As you lock up your silver and gold,
25a: so make balances and scales for your words.
26: Take care not to err with your tongue, and fall victim to one lying in wait.
Chapter 29
2: Lend to your neighbour in his time of need; repay your neighbour when a loan falls due.
3: Keep your promise and be honest with him, and on every occasion you will find what you need.
4: Many regard a loan as a windfall, and cause trouble to those who help them.
5: One kisses another’s hands until he gets a loan, and is deferential in speaking of his neighbour’s money; but at the time for repayment he delays, and pays back with empty promises, and finds fault with the time.
6: If he can pay, his creditor* will hardly get back half, and will regard that as a windfall. If he cannot pay, the borrower has robbed the other of his money, and he has needlessly made him an enemy; he will repay him with curses and reproaches, and instead of glory will repay him with dishonour.
7: Many refuse to lend, not because of meanness, but from fear of being defrauded needlessly.
8: Nevertheless, be patient with someone in humble circumstances, and do not keep him waiting for your alms.
9: Help the poor for the commandment’s sake, and in their need do not send them away empty-handed.
10: Lose your silver for the sake of a brother or a friend, and do not let it rust under a stone and be lost.
11: Lay up your treasure according to the commandments of the Most High, and it will profit you more than gold.
12: Store up almsgiving in your treasury, and it will rescue you from every disaster;
13: better than a stout shield and a sturdy spear, it will fight for you against the enemy.
14: A good person will be surety for his neighbour, but one who has lost all sense of shame will fail him.
15: Do not forget the kindness of your guarantor, for he has given his life for you.
16: A sinner wastes the property of his guarantor,
17: and the ungrateful person abandons his rescuer.
18: Being surety has ruined many who were prosperous, and has tossed them about like waves of the sea; it has driven the influential into exile, and they have wandered among foreign nations.
19: The sinner comes to grief through surety; his pursuit of gain involves him in lawsuits.
20: Assist your neighbour to the best of your ability, but be careful not to fall yourself.
21: The necessities of life are water, bread, and clothing, and also a house to assure privacy.
22: Better is the life of the poor under their own crude roof than sumptuous food in the house of others.
23: Be content with little or much, and you will hear no reproach for being a guest.
24: It is a miserable life to go from house to house; as a guest you should not open your mouth;
25: you will play the host and provide drink without being thanked, and besides this you will hear rude words like these:
26: ‘Come here, stranger, prepare the table; let me eat what you have there.’
27: ‘Be off, stranger, for an honoured guest is here; my brother has come for a visit, and I need the guest-room.’
28: It is hard for a sensitive person to bear scolding about lodging and the insults of the moneylender.
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