New English [1970], THE NEW ENGLISH BIBLE (OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS; CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS, CAMBRIDGE) [word count] [B16000].
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1 There are three sights which warm my heart note
and are beautiful in the eyes of the Lord and of men:
concord among brothers, friendship among neighbours,
and a man and wife who are inseparable.
2 There are three kinds of men who arouse my hatred,
who disgust me by their manner of life:
a poor man who boasts, a rich man who lies,
and an old fool who commits adultery.
3 If you have not gathered wisdom in your youth,
how will you find it when you are old?
4 Sound judgement sits well on grey hairs
and wise advice comes well from older men.
5 Wisdom is fitting in the aged,
and ripe counsel in men of eminence.
6 Long experience is the old man's crown,
and his pride is the fear of the Lord.
7 I can think of nine men I count happy,
and I can tell you of a tenth:
a man who can take delight in his children,
and one who lives to see his enemy's downfall;
8 happy the husband of a sensible wife,
the farmer who does not plough with ox and ass together, note
the man whose tongue never betrays him,
and the servant who has never worked for an inferior!
9 Happy the man who has found a friend, note
and the speaker who has an attentive audience!
10 How great is the man who finds wisdom!
But no greater than he who fears the Lord.
11 The fear of the Lord excels all other gifts;
to what can we compare the man who has it? note
-- --
Counsels upon social behaviour
13 Any wound but a wound in the heart!
Any spite but a woman's!
14 Any disaster but one caused by hate!
Any vengeance but the vengeance of an enemy!
15 There is no venom note worse than a snake's,
and no anger worse than an enemy's.
16 I would sooner share a home with a lion or a snake
than keep house with a spiteful wife.
17 Her spite changes her expression,
making her look as surly as a bear.
18 Her husband goes to a neighbour for his meals
and cannot repress a bitter sigh.
19 There is nothing so bad as a bad wife;
may the fate of the wicked overtake her! note
20 It is as easy for an old man to climb a sand-dune
as for a quiet husband to live with a nagging wife.
21 Do not be enticed by a woman's beauty
or set your heart on possessing her.
22 If a man is supported by his wife
he must expect tantrums, shamelessness, and outrage.
23 A bad wife brings humiliation,
downcast looks, and a wounded heart.
Slack of hand and weak of knee
is the man whose wife fails to make him happy.
24 Woman is the origin of sin,
and it is through her that we all die.
25 Do not leave a leaky cistern to drip
or allow a bad wife to say what she likes.
26 If she does not accept your control,
divorce her and send her away.
-- --
Counsels upon social behaviour
New English [1970], THE NEW ENGLISH BIBLE (OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS; CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS, CAMBRIDGE) [word count] [B16000].
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