Sirach 25:13-26
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Some Extreme Forms of Evil
13 Any wound, but not a wound of the heart!
Any wickedness, but not the wickedness of a woman!(A)
14 Any suffering, but not suffering from those who hate!
And any vengeance, but not the vengeance of enemies!
15 There is no venom[a] worse than a snake’s venom[b]
and no anger worse than a woman’s[c] wrath.
The Evil of a Wicked Woman
16 I would rather live with a lion and a dragon
than live with an evil woman.(B)
17 A woman’s wickedness changes her appearance
and darkens her face like that of a bear.(C)
18 Her husband sits[d] among the neighbors,
and he cannot help sighing[e] bitterly.
19 Any iniquity is small compared to a woman’s iniquity;
may a sinner’s lot befall her!(D)
20 A sandy ascent for the feet of the aged—
such is a garrulous wife to a quiet husband.(E)
21 Do not be ensnared by a woman’s beauty,
and do not desire a woman for her possessions.[f](F)
22 There is wrath and impudence and great disgrace
when a wife supports her husband.
23 Dejected mind, gloomy face,
and wounded heart come from an evil wife.
Drooping hands and weak knees
come from the wife who does not make her husband happy.(G)
24 From a woman sin had its beginning,
and because of her we all die.(H)
25 Allow no outlet to water
and no boldness of speech to an evil wife.(I)
26 If she does not go as you direct,
separate her from yourself.(J)
Sirach 26:10-12
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
10 Keep strict watch over a headstrong daughter,
or else, when she finds liberty, she will make use of it.(A)
11 Be on guard against her impudent eye,
and do not be surprised if she sins against you.
12 As a thirsty traveler opens his mouth
and drinks from any water near him,
so she will sit in front of every tent peg
and open her quiver to the arrow.(B)
Sirach 42:9-14
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Daughters and Fathers
9 A daughter is a secret anxiety to her father,
and worry over her robs him of sleep;
when she is young, for fear she may not marry,
or if married, for fear she may be disliked;(A)
10 while a virgin, for fear she may be seduced
and become pregnant in her father’s house;
or having a husband, for fear she may go astray,
or, though married, for fear she may be barren.(B)
11 Keep strict watch over a headstrong daughter,
or she may make you a laughingstock to your enemies,
a byword in the city and the assembly of[a] the people,
and put you to shame in public gatherings.[b]
See that there is no lattice in her room,
no spot that overlooks the approaches to the house.[c](C)
12 Do not let her parade her beauty before any man
or spend her time among married women,[d](D)
13 for from garments comes the moth
and from a woman comes woman’s wickedness.(E)
14 Better is the wickedness of a man than a woman who does good;
it is a woman who brings shame and disgrace.(F)
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.