Sirach 24–26: Let Your Dwelling Be in Jacob": Wisdom's Hymn, and Wives Good and Bad
Scripture: World English Bible
Wisdom will praise her own soul,and will proclaim her glory in the midst of her people.She will open her mouth in the congregation of the Most High,and proclaim her glory in the presence of his power.“I came out of the mouth of the Most High,and covered the earth as a mist.I lived in high places,and my throne is in the pillar of the cloud.Alone I surrounded the circuit of heaven,and walked in the depth of the abyss.In the waves of the sea, and in all the earth,and in every people and nation, I obtained a possession.With all these I sought rest.In whose inheritance shall I lodge?Then the Creator of all things gave me a command.He who created me made my tent to rest,and said, ‘Let your dwelling be in Jacob,and your inheritance in Israel.’He created me from the beginning, before the ages.For all ages, I will not cease to exist.In the holy tabernacle, I ministered before him.So I was established in Zion.In the beloved city, likewise he gave me rest.In Jerusalem was my domain.I took root in a people that was honored,even in the portion of the Lord’s own inheritance.
I was exalted like a cedar in Lebanon,And like a cypress tree on the mountains of Hermon.I was exalted like a palm tree on the sea shore,like rose bushes in Jericho,and like a fair olive tree in the plain.I was exalted like a plane tree.Like cinnamon and aspalathus, I have given a scent to perfumes.Like choice myrrh, I spread abroad a pleasant fragrance,like galbanum, onycha, stacte,and as the smell of frankincense in the tabernacle.Like the terebinth, I stretched out my branches.My branches are glorious and graceful.Like the vine, I put forth grace.My flowers are the fruit of glory and riches.
“Come to me, all you who desire me,and be filled with my fruits.For my memory is sweeter than honey,and my inheritance than the honeycomb.Those who eat me will be hungry for more.Those who drink me will be thirsty for more.He who obeys me will not be ashamed.Those who work with me will not sin.”
All these things are the book of the covenant of the Most High God,the law which Moses commanded us for an inheritance for the assemblies of Jacob.It is he who makes wisdom abundant, as Pishon,and as Tigris in the days of first fruits.He makes understanding full as the Euphrates,and as the Jordan in the days of harvest,who makes instruction shine forth as the light,as Gihon in the days of vintage.The first man didn’t know her perfectly.In like manner, the last has not explored her.For her thoughts are filled from the sea,and her counsels from the great deep.
I came out as a canal stream from a river,and as an irrigation ditch into a garden.I said, “I will water my garden,and will drench my garden bed.”Behold, my stream became a river,and my river became a sea.I will yet bring instruction to light as the morning,and will make these things clear from far away.I will continue to pour out teaching like prophecy,and leave it to all generations.See that I have not labored for myself only,but for all those who diligently seek wisdom.
I enjoy three things,and they are beautiful before the Lord and men:the agreement of kindred,the friendship of neighbors,and a woman and her husband who walk together in agreement.But my soul hates three sorts of people,and I am greatly offended at their life:a poor man who is arrogant,a rich man who is a liar,and an old fool who is an adulterer.
If you gathered nothing in your youth,how could you find anything in your old age?How beautiful a thing is judgment in the gray-haired,and for elders to know good counsel!How beautiful is the wisdom of old men,and understanding and counsel to men who are in honor!Much experience is the crown of the aged.Their glory is the fear of the Lord.
There are nine things that I have thought of, and in my heart counted happy,and the tenth I will utter with my tongue:a man who has joy with his children,and a man who lives and sees the fall of his enemies.Happy is he who dwells with a wife of understanding,he who has not slipped with his tongue,and he who has not served a man who is unworthy of him.Happy is he who has found prudence,and he who speaks in the ears of those who listen.How great is he who has found wisdom!Yet there is none greater than one who fears the Lord.The fear of the Lord surpasses all things.To whom shall he who holds it be likened?
Any wound but a wound of the heart!Any wickedness but the wickedness of a woman!Any calamity but a calamity from those who hate me!Any vengeance but the vengeance of enemies!There is no venom worse than a snake’s venom.There is no wrath worse than an enemy’s wrath.
I would rather dwell with a lion and a dragonthan keep house with a wicked woman.The wickedness of a woman changes her appearance,and darkens her countenance like that of a bear.Her husband will sit among his neighbors,and when he hears it, he sighs bitterly.All malice is small compared to the malice of a woman.Let the portion of a sinner fall on her.As walking up a sandy hill is to the feet of the aged,so is a wife full of words to a quiet man.Don’t be ensnared by a woman’s beauty.Don’t desire a woman for her beauty.There is anger, impudence, and great reproachif a woman supports her husband.A wicked woman is abasement of heart,sadness of countenance, and a wounded heart.A woman who won’t make her husband happyis like hands that hang down, and weak knees.The beginning of sin came from a woman.Because of her, we all die.Don’t give water an outlet,and don’t give a wicked woman freedom of speech.If she doesn’t go as you direct,cut her away from your flesh.
Happy is the husband of a good wife.The number of his days will be doubled.A faithful wife gives joy to her husband.He will fulfill his years in peace.A good wife is a great gift.She will be given to those who fear the Lord.Whether a man is rich or poor,a good heart makes a cheerful face at all times.
Of three things my heart was afraid,and concerning the fourth kind I made supplication:The slander of a city, the assembly of a mob, and a false accusation.All these are more grievous than death.A grief of heart and sorrow is a woman who is jealous of another woman.Her tongue-lashing makes it known to all.A wicked woman is like a chafing yoke.He who takes hold of her is like one who grasps a scorpion.A drunken woman causes great wrath.She will not cover her own shame.The fornication of a woman is in the lifting up of her eyes;it will be known by her eyelids.Keep strict watch on a headstrong daughter,lest she find liberty for herself, and use it.Watch out for an impudent eye,and don’t be surprised if it sins against you.She will open her mouth like a thirsty traveller,and drink from every water that is near.She will sit down at every post,and open her quiver to any arrow.
The grace of a wife will delight her husband.Her knowledge will strengthen his bones.A silent woman is a gift of the Lord.There is nothing worth so much as a well-instructed soul.A modest woman is grace upon grace.There are no scales that can weigh the value of a self-controlled soul.As the sun when it arises in the highest places of the Lord,so is the beauty of a good wife in her well-organized home.As the lamp that shines upon the holy lampstand,so is the beauty of the face on a well-proportioned body.As the golden pillars are upon a base of silver,so are beautiful feet with the breasts of one who is steadfast.
For two things my heart is grieved,and for the third anger comes upon me:a warrior who suffers for poverty,men of understanding who are counted as garbage,and one who turns back from righteousness to sin—the Lord will prepare him for the sword!
It is difficult for a merchant to keep himself from wrong doing,and for a retailer to be acquitted of sin.