Chapter 25

¹ In three things I was beautified,

Sir 25:1

² Three sorts of men my soul hateth,

Sir 25:2

³ If thou hast gathered nothing in thy youth,

Sir 25:3

⁴ O how comely a thing is judgment for gray hairs,

Sir 25:4

⁵ O how comely is the wisdom of old men,

Sir 25:5

⁶ Much experience is the crown of old men,

Sir 25:6

⁷ There be nine things which I have judged in my heart to be happy,

Sir 25:7

⁸ Well is he that dwelleth with a wife of understanding,

Sir 25:8

⁹ Well is he that hath found prudence,

Sir 25:9

¹⁰ O how great is he that findeth wisdom!

Sir 25:10

¹¹ But the love of the Lord passeth all things for illumination:

Sir 25:11

¹³ [Give me] any plague, but the plague of the heart:

Sir 25:13

¹⁴ And any affliction, but the affliction from them that hate me:

Sir 25:14

¹⁵ There is no head above the head of a serpent;

Sir 25:15

¹⁶ I had rather dwell with a lion and a dragon,

Sir 25:16

¹⁷ The wickedness of a woman changeth her face,

Sir 25:17

¹⁸ Her husband shall sit among his neighbors;

Sir 25:18

¹⁹ All wickedness is but little to the wickedness of a woman;

Sir 25:19

²⁰ As the climbing up a sandy way is to the feet of the aged,

Sir 25:20

²¹ Stumble not at the beauty of a woman,

Sir 25:21

²² A woman, if she maintain her husband,

Sir 25:22

²³ A wicked woman abateth the courage, maketh a heavy countenance and a wounded heart:

Sir 25:23

²⁴ Of the woman came the beginning of sin,

Sir 25:24

²⁵ Give the water no passage;

Sir 25:25

²⁶ If she go not as thou wouldest have her,

Sir 25:26