Sirach

CHAPTER 26

the number of his days will be doubled.^a

and he will finish his years in peace.

bestowed upon him who fears the Lord.^b

a smile ever on his face.

and a fourth which terrifies me:

Public slander, the gathering of a mob,

and false accusation—all harder to bear than death.

everyone feels the lash of her tongue.

taking hold of her is like grasping a scorpion.

for she does not hide her shame.

an unchaste wife can be recognized.

lest, finding an opportunity, she use it;^c

and do not be surprised if she betrays you:

and drinks from any water nearby,

So she sits down before every tent peg

and opens her quiver for every arrow.

her thoughtfulness puts flesh on his bones.

nothing is worth more than her self-discipline.

no scales can weigh the worth of her chastity.

the beauty of a good wife in her well-ordered home.

a beautiful face on a stately figure.

so her shapely legs and steady feet.^†

Dangers to Integrity and Friendship

and a third arouses my anger:

The wealthy reduced to want,

the intelligent held in contempt,

And those who pass from righteousness to sin—

the Lord prepares them for the sword.^d

nor can a shopkeeper stay free from sin;

* [26:1–4, 13–18] A good wife is as a gift from God, bringing joy and peace, happiness and contentment to her husband (vv. 1–4) through her thoughtfulness, reserve, modesty and chastity, beauty, grace, and virtue (vv. 13–18).

* [26:6–12] A repetition of the thought expressed in 25:13–26.

* [26:17–18] The lampstand and the columns were located in the holy place of the ancient tabernacle (Ex 25:31–40; 26:32).

† [26:18] Other ancient texts read as vv. 19–27:

¹⁹ My child, keep intact the bloom of your youth,

and do not give your strength to strangers.

²⁰ Seek out a fertile field from all the land,

and sow it with your own seed, confident in your fine stock.

²¹ So shall your offspring prosper,

and grow great, confident in their good descent.

²² A woman for hire is regarded as spittle,

but a married woman is a deadly snare for her lovers.

²³ A godless wife will be given to the lawless man as his portion,

but a godly wife will be given to the man who fears the Lord.

²⁴ A shameless woman wears out reproach,

but a virtuous daughter will be modest even before her husband.

²⁵ A headstrong wife is regarded as a bitch,

but the one with a sense of shame fears the Lord.

²⁶ The wife who honors her husband will seem wise to everyone,

but if she dishonors him in her pride, she will be known to everyone as ungodly.

Happy is the husband of a good wife,

for the number of his years will be doubled.

²⁷ A loud-mouthed and garrulous wife will be regarded

as a trumpet sounding the charge,

And every person who lives like this

will spend his life in the anarchy of war.

* [26:28–27:15] From proper conduct in family life, Ben Sira proceeds to social morality, warning especially against injustice in business (26:29–27:3), and perversity of speech in daily life (27:4–7). The pursuit of justice in these matters is all the more meritorious as it is difficult (27:8–10). The discourses of the godly are marked with wisdom, but the conversations of the wicked with offense, swearing, cursing, quarrels, and even bloodshed (27:11–15).

a. [26:1] Sir 25:8; Prv 18:22.

b. [26:3] Sir 36:27–29.

c. [26:10] Sir 42:11.

d. [26:28] Ez 18:24–29.