Ben Sira 26:13-18
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
13 A gracious wife delights her husband;
her thoughtfulness puts flesh on his bones.
14 A silent wife is a gift from the Lord;
nothing is worth more than her self-discipline.
15 A modest wife is a supreme blessing;
no scales can weigh the worth of her chastity.
16 The sun rising in the Lord’s heavens—
the beauty of a good wife in her well-ordered home.
17 The light which shines above the holy lampstand—[a]
a beautiful face on a stately figure.
18 Golden columns on silver bases—
so her shapely legs and steady feet.[b]
Footnotes
- 26:17–18 The lampstand and the columns were located in the holy place of the ancient tabernacle (Ex 25:31–40; 26:32).
- 26:18
Other ancient texts read as vv. 19–27:
19My child, keep intact the bloom of your youth,
and do not give your strength to strangers.
20Seek out a fertile field from all the land,
and sow it with your own seed, confident in your fine stock.
21So shall your offspring prosper,
and grow great, confident in their good descent.
22A woman for hire is regarded as spittle,
but a married woman is a deadly snare for her lovers.
23A godless wife will be given to the lawless man as his portion,
but a godly wife will be given to the man who fears the Lord.
24A shameless woman wears out reproach,
but a virtuous daughter will be modest even before her husband.
25A headstrong wife is regarded as a bitch,
but the one with a sense of shame fears the Lord.
26The wife who honors her husband will seem wise to everyone,
but if she dishonors him in her pride, she will be known to everyone as ungodly.
Happy is the husband of a good wife,
for the number of his years will be doubled.
27A loud-mouthed and garrulous wife will be regarded
as a trumpet sounding the charge,
And every person who lives like this
will spend his life in the anarchy of war.
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.