- 1
I enjoy three things, and they are beautiful before the Lord and men: the agreement of kindred, the friendship of neighbors, and a woman and her husband who walk together in agreement.
- 2
But my soul hates three sorts of people, and I am greatly offended at their life: a poor man who is arrogant, a rich man who is a liar, and an old fool who is 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 judgment in the gray-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 honor!
- 6
Much experience is the crown of the aged. Their glory is the fear of the Lord.
- 7
There are nine things that I have thought of, and in my heart counted happy, and the tenth I will 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 dwells with a wife of understanding, he who has not slipped with his tongue, and he who has not served a man who is unworthy of him.
- 9
Happy is he who has found prudence, and he who speaks in the ears of those who listen.
- 10
How great is he who has found wisdom! Yet there is none greater than one who fears the Lord.
- 11
The fear of the Lord surpasses all things. To whom shall he who holds it be likened?
- 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 is no venom worse than a snake’s venom. There is no wrath worse than an enemy’s wrath.
- 16
I would rather dwell 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 countenance like that of a bear.
- 18
Her husband will sit among his neighbors, 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 is anger, impudence, and great reproach if a woman supports her husband.
- 23
A wicked woman is abasement of heart, sadness of countenance, 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.
Bible: World English Bible (Catholic), public domain, via eBible.org. Footnotes, section headings and acrostic letters are not reproduced.