Sirach 25 Three thinges there are that my spirite fauoureth, which be also alowed before God and men: The vnitie of brethren, the loue of neyghbours, a man and wyfe that agree well together.

Bishops⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ Three thinges there are that my spirite fauoureth, which be also alowed before God and men: The vnitie of brethren, the loue of neyghbours, a man and wyfe that agree well together. ² Three thinges there be which my soule hateth, and I vtterly abhorre the life of them: A poore man that is proude, a riche man that is a lyar, and an old body that doteth and is vnchaste. ³ If thou hast gathered nothing in thy youth, what wilt thou find then in thine age? ⁴ O howe pleasaunt a thing is it when gray headed men are discrete, and when the elders can geue good counsell? ⁵ O howe comely a thing is wisdome vnto aged men? yea, vnderstanding & counsel to men of honour is a glorious thing. ⁶ The crowne of olde men, is to haue much experience: and the feare of God, is their worship. ⁷ There be nyne thinges which I haue iudged in my heart to be happy, and the tenth will I tell foorth vnto men with my tongue: A man that whyle he liueth hath ioy of his children, and seeth the fal of his enemies. ⁸ Well is hym that dwelleth with an houswyfe of vnderstanding, and that hath not fallen with his tongue, and that hath not ben fayne to serue such as are vnmeete for him. ⁹ Well is hym that findeth a faythfull friend: and well is him which talketh of wysdome to an eare that heareth hym. ¹⁰ O howe great is he that findeth wysdome and knowledge? Yet is he not aboue him that feareth the Lorde. ¹¹ The feare of God hath set it selfe aboue all thinges. ¹² Blessed is the man vnto whom it is graunted to haue the feare of God: vnto whom shall he be likened that kepeth it fast? ¹³ The feare of God is the beginning of his loue: and the beginning of fayth, is to cleaue fast vnto it. ¹⁴ The heauinesse of the heart is all the punishement, and the wickednesse of a woman goeth aboue all. ¹⁵ All punishement and plague is nothing in comparison of the plague of the heart: euen so, al wickednesse is nothing to the wickednesse of a woman. ¹⁶ What so euer happeneth vnto a man, is nothing in comparison of it that his euil willers do vnto him: and al vengeaunce is nothing to the vengeaunce of the enemie. ¹⁷ There is not a more wicked head then the head of the serpent: and there is no wrath aboue the wrath of a woman. ¹⁸ I wyll rather dwel with a lion and dragon, then to kepe house with a wicked wyfe. ¹⁹ The wickednesse of a woman chaungeth her face, she shal moffle her countetaunce as it were a beare, and as a sacke shal she shew it among the neyghbours. ²⁰ Her husbande is brought to shame among his neyghbours because of her: & when he heareth it, it maketh him to sigh. ²¹ All wickednesse is but litle to the wickednesse of a woman: the portion of the vngodly shall fall vpon her. ²² Lyke as the clymyng vp a sandy way is to the feete of the aged: euen so is a wife full of wordes to a still quiete man. ²³ Loke not to narowly vpon the beautie of a woman, lest thou be prouoked in desire towarde her. ²⁴ The wrath of a woman is dishonour and great confusion: If a woman get the mastrie, then is she contrarie to her husbande. ²⁵ A wicked wyfe maketh a sory heart, an heauy countenaunce, and a dead wound: Weake handes & feeble knees is a woman that her husband is not the better for. ²⁶ Of the woman came the beginning of sinne, & thorowe her we all are dead. ²⁷ Geue thy water no passage, no not a litle, neither geue a wicked woman her will. ²⁸ If she walke not after thy hande, she shall confounde thee in the sight of thine enemies: Cut her of then from thy fleshe, that she do not alway abuse thee.