Sirach 26

Bishops(i) 1 Happy is the man that hath a vertuous wyfe: for the nuber of his yeres shalbe double. 2 An honest woman maketh her husbande a ioyfull man, and she shall fill the yeres of his lyfe in peace. 3 A vertuous woman is a noble gift, whiche shalbe geuen for a good portion vnto such as feare God: 4 Whether a man be riche or poore, he may haue euer a mery heart, & a cheareful countenaunce. 5 There be three thinges that my heart feareth, and my face is afrayde of the fourth: treason in a citie, a seditious people, and noysome tongues: all these are heauyer then the death. 6 When one woman is ielous ouer an other, it bringeth payne and sorowe vnto the heart: and a woman that telleth out all thinges, is a scourge of the tongue. 7 When one hath an euyll wyfe, it is euen as when an vnlyke payre of oxen must drawe together: he that getteth her, getteth a scorpion. 8 A drunken woman is a great plague: for she can not couer her owne shame. 9 The whordome of a woman may be knowen in the pryde of her eyes and eye liddes. 10 If thy daughter be not shamefast, hold her straytly, lest she abuse her selfe thorowe ouer much libertie. 11 Beware of all the dishonestie of her eyes, & maruel not if she do against thee. 12 As a way faring man that is thirstie, when he hath founde a well drinketh of euery water: so will she sit downe by euery hedge, and make her selfe common to euery man that passeth by. 13 A louing wyfe reioyceth her husbande, & feedeth his bones with her wysdome. 14 A woman of fewe wordes is a gift of God: to all nurtured myndes may nothing be compared. 15 An honest and manerly woman is a gift aboue other giftes: and there is no wayght to be compared vnto a minde that can rule it selfe. 16 Like as the sunne when it ariseth, is an ornament in the hie heauen of the Lord: so is a vertuous wyfe the beautie of all her house. 17 Like as the cleare light is vpon the holy candelsticke: so is the beautie of the face vpon an honest body. 18 Like as the golden pillers are vpon the sockettes of siluer: so are the fayre feete vpon a woman that hath a constant mynde. 19 Perpetual are the foundations that be layed vpon a whole stony rocke: so are the commaundementes of God vpon the heart of an holy woman. 20 There be two thinges that greeue my heart, & in the thirde is displeasure come vpo me: When an experte man of warre suffreth scarsenesse and pouertie, when men of vnderstanding and wisdome are not set by, and when one departeth from righteousnesse vnto sinne: Who so doth such, the Lorde hath prepared him vnto the sworde. 21 There be two maner of thinges which me thinke to be harde and perilous: A marchaunt can not lightly kepe hym from wrong, neither a tauerner hym selfe from sinne.