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The Book of Jesus Sirach

Catholic Public Domain :: World English Bible Catholic

- Kapitel 26 -

Of good and bad women.

1
Blessed is the husband of a good wife. For the number of his years is doubled.
2
A good wife delights her husband, and she will fill up the years of his life with peace.
3
A good wife is a good portion. She will be given the portion of those who fear God, like a man who has done good deeds.
4
But, rich or poor, with a good heart, his countenance will be cheerful at all times.
5
Of three things, my heart has been afraid, and at a fourth, my face has shown dread:
6
an accusation made by a city, and the gathering of a mob,
7
and a deceitful false accusation. All these are more grievous than death.
8
A jealous wife is a grief and a mourning to the heart.
9
In a jealous wife, there is a scourge of the tongue, which communicates with everyone.
10
Like a yoke of oxen being provoked, so also is a wicked wife. He who has hold of her is like one who has taken hold of a scorpion.
11
An inebriated wife is a great wrath. And her disgrace and indecency will not be covered.
12
The fornication of a wife will become known by the haughtiness of her eyes and by her eyelids.
13
So that her daughter will not also turn away, keep a strict watch; otherwise, having found an opportunity, she may enjoy herself.
14
Be wary of the irreverence of her eyes, and you should not wonder if she might disregard you.
15
Like a thirsty traveler, she will open her mouth to the fountain, and she will drink from every water nearby, and she will sit down beside every fencepost, and she will open her quiver to every arrow, until she becomes weary.
16
The grace of an attentive wife will delight her husband, and will fatten his bones.
17
Her discipline is a gift from God.
18
Such is an understanding and quiet wife. For there is no substitution for a well-instructed soul.
19
A holy and contrite wife is grace upon grace.
20
And no amount of money is equal to the value of a soul with self-restraint.
21
Like the sun rising over the world in the high places of God, so the beauty of a good wife is the adornment of her house.
22
Like a lamp shining atop a holy lampstand, so is the beauty of a face in the mature stage of life.
23
Like golden pillars upon bases of silver, so are the firm feet of a mature wife upon the soles of her feet.
24
Like everlasting foundations upon a solid rock, so are the commandments of God in the heart of a holy wife.
25
By two things, my heart is greatly saddened, and at a third, anger overwhelms me:
26
a man of war failing because of dire need, and an understanding man treated with contempt,
27
and anyone who crosses over from justice to sin. God has prepared such a one for the spear.
28
Two kinds of things have seemed difficult and dangerous to me: a merchant will not be easily freed from his negligence, and a shopkeeper will not be justified by the sins of his lips.(a) (b)

Fußnoten

(a)26:28 From negligence:That is, from the neglect of the service of God: because the eager pursuit of the mammon of this world, is apt to make men of that calling forget the great duties of loving God above all things, and their neighbours as themselves.(Challoner)
(b)26:28 A huckster:Or, a retailer of wine. Men of that profession are both greatly exposed to danger of sin themselves, and are too often accessary to the sins of others.(Challoner)

Of good and bad women.

1
Happy is the husband of a good wife. The number of his days will be doubled.
2
A faithful wife gives joy to her husband. He will fulfill his years in peace.
3
A good wife is a great gift. She will be given to those who fear the Lord.
4
Whether a man is rich or poor, a good heart makes a cheerful face at all times.
5
Of three things my heart was afraid, and concerning the fourth(a) 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.
6
A grief of heart and sorrow is a woman who is jealous of another woman. Her tongue-lashing makes it known to all.
7
A wicked woman is like a chafing yoke. He who takes hold of her is like one who grasps a scorpion.
8
A drunken woman causes great wrath. She will not cover her own shame.
9
The fornication of a woman is in the lifting up of her eyes; it will be known by her eyelids.
10
Keep strict watch on a headstrong daughter, lest she find liberty for herself, and use it.
11
Watch out for an impudent eye, and don’t be surprised if it sins against you.
12
She 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.
13
The grace of a wife will delight her husband. Her knowledge will strengthen(b) his bones.
14
A silent woman is a gift of the Lord. There is nothing worth so much as a well-instructed soul.
15
A modest woman is grace upon grace. There are no scales that can weigh the value of a self-controlled soul.
16
As 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.
17
As the lamp that shines upon the holy lampstand, so is the beauty of the face on a well-proportioned body.
18
As the golden pillars are upon a base of silver, so are beautiful feet with the breasts of one who is steadfast.
19
(c)
20
(d)
21
(e)
22
(f)
23
(g)
24
(h)
25
(i)
26
(j)
27
(k)
28
For 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!
29
It is difficult for a merchant to keep himself from wrong doing, and for a retailer to be acquitted of sin.

Fußnoten

(a)26:5 Gr. countenance.
(b)26:13 or, fatten
(c)26:19 Verses 19-27 are omitted by the best authorities.
(d)26:19 Verses 19-27 are omitted by the best authorities.
(e)26:19 Verses 19-27 are omitted by the best authorities.
(f)26:19 Verses 19-27 are omitted by the best authorities.
(g)26:19 Verses 19-27 are omitted by the best authorities.
(h)26:19 Verses 19-27 are omitted by the best authorities.
(i)26:19 Verses 19-27 are omitted by the best authorities.
(j)26:19 Verses 19-27 are omitted by the best authorities.
(k)26:19 Verses 19-27 are omitted by the best authorities.