Chapter 25

25. In three things I was beautified, and stood up beautiful both before God and men: the unity of brethren, the love of neighbors, a man and his wife that agree together, but three sorts of things my soul hates, and I am greatly grieved at their life: a poor man that is proud, a rich man that is a liar, and an old adulterer that dotes. If thou hast gathered nothing in thy youth, how canst thou find any thing in thine age? Oh how comely a thing is judgment for an old man, and the counsel of men of honor, and how comely is the wisdom of old men, and understanding and counsel to men of honor! Much experience is the crown of old men, and their glory is the fear of the Lord, for there are nine things that I have judged in mine heart to be happy, and the tenth I will utter with my tongue: A man that takes joy in his children, a man that lives and sees the fall of his enemy, happy is he that dwells with a wife of understanding, and that hath not slipped with his tongue, and that hath not served a man unworthy of him, happy is he that finds a true friend, and he that speaketh in the ears of one that will hear. How great is he that findeth wisdom and knowledge, but there is none above him that feareth the Lord, for the fear of the Lord is above all things, and he that has it, to whom shall he be compared? Give me any plague, but the plague of the heart, and any wickedness, but the wickedness of a woman, and any affliction, but the affliction from them that hate me, and any revenge, but the revenge of enemies; there is no head above the head of a serpent, and there is no wrath above the wrath of an enemy. I had rather dwell with a lion and a dragon, than to keep house with a wicked woman, for the wickedness of a woman changes her face, and darkens her countenance like sackcloth, and her husband shall sigh. Among her neighbours is a woman full of malice, and she sits in the midst of them, and if her house be well ordered, she is like a garden in the midst of a garden, but a woman that is a drunkard is a curse, and her shame shall not be covered, for a wicked woman abases her husband, and makes him to be despised, and a foolish woman is a stench, and her house is full of noise, and a woman that is a drunkard is a curse. When you have a faithful wife, you are rich, and when you have children, you are happy, and when you have a wife that will help you, you are well. All the wickedness is but little to the wickedness of a woman, let the portion of a sinner fall upon her, as the climbing up a sandy way is to the feet of the aged, so is a wife full of words to a quiet man, but look not upon her beauty, and neither desire a woman for her beauty. A woman, if she maintain her husband, is full of honor, but if she maintain him not, she is full of shame, and a wicked woman is a curse, and her shame shall not be covered. The heart of a woman is a great trouble, and if she be a fool, she is a stench, and a woman that is a drunkard is a curse, and her shame shall not be covered. Of the woman came the beginning of sin, and through her we all die, so give the water no passage, neither a wicked woman liberty to gad abroad, for if she go not at thy hand, she is not yours, and if you have not a fence, she is no longer yours. If she go not as you would have her, cut her off from your flesh, and deliver her from your spirit, and let her not be your sister.