1 | With three things my spirit is pleased, which are approved before God and men: |
2 | The concord of brethren, and the love of neighbours, and man and wife that agree well together. |
3 | Three sorts my soul hateth, and I am greatly grieved at their life: |
4 | A poor man that is proud: a rich man that is a liar: an old man that is a fool, and doting. |
5 | The things that thou hast not gathered in thy youth, how shalt thou find them in thy old age? |
6 | O how comely is judgment for a grey head, and for ancients to know counsel! |
7 | O how comely is wisdom for the aged, and understanding and counsel to men of honour! |
8 | Much experience is the crown of old men, and the fear of God is their glory. |
9 | Nine things that are not to be imagined by the heart have I magnified, and the tenth I will utter to men with my tongue. |
10 | A man that hath joy of his children: and he that liveth and seeth the fall of his enemies. |
11 | Blessed is he. that dwelleth with a wise woman, and that hath not slipped with his tongue, and that hath not served such as are unworthy of him. |
12 | Blessed is he that findeth a true friend, and that declareth justice to an ear that heareth. |
13 | How great is he that findeth wisdom and knowledge! but there is none above him that feareth the Lord. |
14 | The fear of God hath set itself above all things: |
15 | Blessed is the man, to whom it is given to have the fear of God: he that holdeth it, to whom shall he be likened? |
16 | The fear of God is the beginning of his love: and the beginning of faith is to be fast joined unto it. |
17 | The sadness of the heart is every plague: and the wickedness of a woman is all evil. |
18 | And a man will choose any plague, but the plague of the heart: |
19 | And any wickedness, but the wickedness of a woman: |
20 | And any affliction, but the affliction from them that hate him: |
21 | And any revenge, but the revenge of enemies. |
22 | There is no head worse than the head of a serpent: |
23 | And there is no anger above the anger of a woman. It will be more agreeable to abide with a lion and a dragon, than to dwell with a wicked woman. |
24 | The wickedness of a woman changeth her face: and she darkeneth her countenance as a bear: and sheweth it like sackcloth. In the midst of her neighbours, |
25 | Her husband groaned, and hearing he sighed a little. |
26 | All malice is shore to the malice of a woman, let the lot of sinners fall upon her. |
27 | As the climbing of a sandy way is to the feet of the aged, so is a wife full of tongue to a quiet man. |
28 | Look not upon a woman's beauty, and desire not a woman for beauty. |
29 | A woman's anger, and impudence, and confusion is great. |
30 | A woman, if she have superiority, is contrary to her husband. |
31 | A wicked woman abateth the courage, and maketh a heavy countenance, and a wounded heart. |
32 | Feeble hands, and disjointed knees, a woman that doth not make her husband happy. |
33 | From the woman came the beginning of sin, and by her we all die. |
34 | Give no issue to thy water, no, not a little: nor to a wicked woman liberty to gad abroad. |
35 | If she walk not at thy hand, she will confound thee in the sight of thy enemies. |
36 | Cut her off from thy flesh, lest she always abuse thee. |