Sirach 26
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1 Happy is the husband of a good wife: for the number of his years is double.
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2 A virtuous woman rejoiceth her husband, and shall fulfil the years of his life in peace.
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3 A good wife is a good portion, she shall be given in the portion of them that fear God, to a man for his good deeds.
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4 Rich or poor, if his heart is good, his countenance shall be cheerful at all times.
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5 Of three things my heart hath been afraid, and at the fourth my face hath trembled:
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6 The accusation of a city, and the gathering together of the people:
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7 And a false calumny, all are more grievous than death.
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8 A jealous woman is the grief and mourning of the heart.
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9 With a jealous woman is a scourge of the tongue which communicateth with all.
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10 As a yoke of oxen that is moved to and fro, so also is a wicked woman: he that hath hold of her, is as he that taketh hold of a scorpion.
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11 A drunken woman is a great wrath: and her reproach and shame shall not be hid.
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12 The fornication of a woman shall be known by the haughtiness of her eyes and by her eyelids.
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13 On a daughter that turneth not away herself, set a strict watch: lest finding an opportunity she abuse herself.
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14 Take heed of the impudence of her eyes, and wonder not if she slight thee.
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15 She will open her mouth as a thirsty traveller to the fountain, and will drink of every water near her, and will sit down by every hedge, and open her quiver against every arrow, until she fail.
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16 The grace of a diligent woman shall delight her husband, and shall fat his bones.
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17 Her discipline is the gift of God.
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18 Such is a wise and silent woman, and there is nothing so much worth as a well instructed soul.
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19 A holy and shamefaced woman is grace upon grace.
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20 And no price is worthy of a continent soul.
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21 As the sun when it riseth to the world in the high places of God, so is the beauty of a good wife for the ornament of her house.
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22 As the lamp shining upon the holy candlestick, so is the beauty of the face in a ripe age,
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23 As golden pillars upon bases of silver, so are the firm feet upon the soles of a steady woman.
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24 As everlasting foundations upon a solid rock, so the commandments of God in the heart of a holy woman.
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25 At two things my heart is grieved, and the third bringeth anger upon me.
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26 A man of war fainting through poverty, and a man of sense despised:
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27 And he that passeth over from justice to sin, God hath prepared such an one for the sword.
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28 Two sorts of callings have appeared to me hard and dangerous: a merchant is hardly free from negligence: and a huckster shall not be justified from the sins of the lips.