Ecclesiasticus 25
1With three things my spirit is pleased, which are approved before God and men:
In tribus placitum est spiritui meo, quæ sunt probata coram Deo et hominibus:
3Three sorts my soul hateth, and I am greatly grieved at their life:
Tres species odivit anima mea, et aggravor valde animæ illorum:
4A poor man that is proud: a rich man that is a liar: an old man that is a fool, and doting.
pauperem superbum, divitem mendacem, senem fatuum et insensatum.
5The things that thou hast not gathered in thy youth, how shalt thou find them in thy old age?
Quæ in juventute tua non congregasti, quomodo in senectute tua invenies?
6O how comely is judgment for a grey head, and for ancients to know counsel!
Quam speciosum canitiei judicium, et presbyteris cognoscere consilium !
7O how comely is wisdom for the aged, and understanding and counsel to men of honour!
Quam speciosa veteranis sapientia, et gloriosus intellectus et consilium !
9Nine things that are not to be imagined by the heart have I magnified, and the tenth I will utter to men with my tongue.
Novem insuspicabilia cordis magnificavi: et decimum dicam in lingua hominibus:
10A man that hath joy of his children: and he that liveth and seeth the fall of his enemies.
homo qui jucundatur in filiis, vivens et videns subversionem inimicorum suorum.
11Blessed is he that dwelleth with a wise woman, and that hath not slipped with his tongue, and that hath not served such as are unworthy of him.
Beatus qui habitat cum muliere sensata, et qui lingua sua non est lapsus, et qui non servivit indignis se.
13How great is he that findeth wisdom and knowledge! but there is none above him that feareth the Lord.
Quam magnus qui invenit sapientiam et scientiam ! sed non est super timentem Dominum.
14The fear of God hath set itself above all things:
Timor Dei super omnia se superposuit.
15Blessed is the man, to whom it is given to have the fear of God: he that holdeth it, to whom shall he be likened?
Beatus homo cui donatum est habere timorem Dei: qui tenet illum, cui assimilabitur?
17The sadness of the heart is every plague: and the wickedness of a woman is all evil.
Omnis plaga tristitia cordis est, et omnis malitia nequitia mulieris.
18And a man will choose any plague, but the plague of the heart:
Et omnem plagam, et non plagam videbit cordis:
19And any wickedness, but the wickedness of a woman:
et omnem nequitiam, et non nequitiam mulieris:
20And any affliction, but the affliction from them that hate him:
et omnem obductum, et non obductum odientium:
21And any revenge, but the revenge of enemies.
et omnem vindictam, et non vindictam inimicorum.
25Her husband groaned, and hearing he sighed a little.
ingemuit vir ejus, et audiens suspiravit modicum.
26All malice is short to the malice of a woman, let the lot of sinners fall upon her.
Brevis omnis malitia super malitiam mulieris: sors peccatorum cadat super illam.
27As the climbing of a sandy way is to the feet of the aged, so is a wife full of tongue to a quiet man.
Sicut ascensus arenosus in pedibus veterani, sic mulier linguata homini quieto.
28Look not upon a woman’s beauty, and desire not a woman for beauty.
Ne respicias in mulieris speciem, et non concupiscas mulierem in specie.
29A woman’s anger, and impudence, and confusion is great.
Mulieris ira, et irreverentia, et confusio magna.
30A woman, if she have superiority, is contrary to her husband.
Mulier si primatum habeat, contraria est viro suo.
31A wicked woman abateth the courage, and maketh a heavy countenance, and a wounded heart.
Cor humile, et facies tristis, et plaga cordis, mulier nequam.
32Feeble hands, and disjointed knees, a woman that doth not make her husband happy.
Manus debiles et genua dissoluta, mulier quæ non beatificat virum suum.
33From the woman came the beginning of sin, and by her we all die.
A muliere initium factum est peccati, et per illam omnes morimur.
34Give no issue to thy water, no, not a little: nor to a wicked woman liberty to gad abroad.
Non des aquæ tuæ exitum, nec modicum: nec mulieri nequam veniam prodeundi.
35If she walk not at thy hand, she will confound thee in the sight of thy enemies.
Si non ambulaverit ad manum tuam, confundet te in conspectu inimicorum.
36Cut her off from thy flesh, lest she always abuse thee.
A carnibus tuis abscinde illam, ne semper te abutatur.