Sirach 26
Sirach is in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles; most Protestant Bibles leave it out or print it apart as the Apocrypha.
World English Bible, as published by eBible.org (public domain).
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1Happy is the husband of a good wife.The number of his days will be doubled.2A faithful wife gives joy to her husband.He will fulfill his years in peace.3A good wife is a great gift.She will be given to those who fear the Lord.4Whether a man is rich or poor,a good heart makes a cheerful face at all times.
5Of three things my heart was afraid,and concerning the fourth kind I made supplication:The slander of a city, the assembly of a mob, and a false accusation.All these are more grievous than death.a6A grief of heart and sorrow is a woman who is jealous of another woman.Her tongue-lashing makes it known to all.7A wicked woman is like a chafing yoke.He who takes hold of her is like one who grasps a scorpion.8A drunken woman causes great wrath.She will not cover her own shame.9The fornication of a woman is in the lifting up of her eyes;it will be known by her eyelids.10Keep strict watch on a headstrong daughter,lest she find liberty for herself, and use it.11Watch out for an impudent eye,and don’t be surprised if it sins against you.12She will open her mouth like a thirsty traveller,and drink from every water that is near.She will sit down at every post,and open her quiver to any arrow.
13The grace of a wife will delight her husband.Her knowledge will strengthen his bones.b14A silent woman is a gift of the Lord.There is nothing worth so much as a well-instructed soul.15A modest woman is grace upon grace.There are no scales that can weigh the value of a self-controlled soul.16As the sun when it arises in the highest places of the Lord,so is the beauty of a good wife in her well-organized home.17As the lamp that shines upon the holy lampstand,so is the beauty of the face on a well-proportioned body.18As the golden pillars are upon a base of silver,so are beautiful feet with the breasts of one who is steadfast.19[My son, keep the flower of your age sound; and give not your strength to strangers.]†c 20[When you have gotten a fruitful possession through all the field, sow it with your own seed, trusting in the goodness of your stock.]† 21[So your race which you leave shall be magnified, having the confidence of their good descent.]† 22[An harlot shall be accounted as spittle; but a married woman is a tower against death to her husband.]† 23[A wicked woman is given as a portion to a wicked man: but a godly woman is given to him that fears the Lord.]† 24[A dishonest woman contemns shame: but an honest woman will reverence her husband.]† 25[A shameless woman shall be counted as a dog; but she that is shamefaced will fear the Lord.]† 26[A woman that honors her husband shall be judged wise of all; but she that dishonors him in her pride shall be counted ungodly of all.]† 27[A loud crying woman and a scold shall be sought out to drive away the enemies.]†
28For two things my heart is grieved,and for the third anger comes upon me:a warrior who suffers for poverty,men of understanding who are counted as garbage,and one who turns back from righteousness to sin—the Lord will prepare him for the sword!
29It is difficult for a merchant to keep himself from wrong doing,and for a retailer to be acquitted of sin.
Words in brackets are not part of the WEB’s text: it leaves these verses out because the oldest manuscripts don’t have them. The words come from the Septuagint in American English 2012 (Brenton’s translation, updated; public domain).