Ecclesiasticus 26 — Douay-Rheims Bible

Happy is the husband of a good wife: for the number of his years is double.● A virtuous woman rejoiceth her husband, and shall fulfil the years of his life in peace.● 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.● Rich or poor, if his heart is good, his countenance shall be cheerful at all times.● Of three things my heart hath been afraid, and at the fourth my face hath trembled:● The accusation of a city, and the gathering together of the people:● And a false calumny, all are more grievous than death.● A jealous woman is the grief and mourning of the heart.● With a jealous woman is a scourge of the tongue which communicateth with all.● 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.● A drunken woman is a great wrath: and her reproach and shame shall not be hid.● The fornication of a woman shall be known by the haughtiness of her eyes and by her eyelids.● On a daughter that turneth not away herself, set a strict watch: lest finding an opportunity she abuse herself.● Take heed of the impudence of her eyes, and wonder not if she slight thee.● 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.● The grace of a diligent woman shall delight her husband, and shall fat his bones.● Her discipline is the gift of God.● Such is a wise and silent woman, and there is nothing so much worth as a well instructed soul.● A holy and shamefaced woman is grace upon grace.● And no price is worthy of a continent soul.● 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.● As the lamp shining upon the holy candlestick, so is the beauty of the face in a ripe age,● As golden pillars upon bases of silver, so are the firm feet upon the soles of a steady woman.● As everlasting foundations upon a solid rock, so the commandments of God in the heart of a holy woman.● At two things my heart is grieved, and the third bringeth anger upon me.● A man of war fainting through poverty, and a man of sense despised:● And he that passeth over from justice to sin, God hath prepared such an one for the sword.● 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.●