1I enjoy three things, and they are beautiful before the Lord and men:
the agreement of kindred,
the friendship of neighbours,
and a woman and her husband who walk together in agreement.

2But my soul hates three sorts of people, and I am greatly offended at their life:
a poor man who is arrogant,
a rich man who is a liar,
and an old fool who is an adulterer.

3If you gathered nothing in your youth, how could you find anything in your old age?

4How beautiful a thing is judgement in the grey-haired, and for elders to know good counsel!

5How beautiful is the wisdom of old men, and understanding and counsel to men who are in honour!

6Much experience is the crown of the aged. Their glory is the fear of the Lord.

7There are nine things that I have thought of, and in my heart counted happy, and the tenth I will utter with my tongue:
a man who has joy with his children,
and a man who lives and sees the fall of his enemies.

8Happy is he who dwells with a wife of understanding, he who has not slipped with his tongue,
and he who has not served a man who is unworthy of him.

9Happy is he who has found prudence, and he who speaks in the ears of those who listen.

10How great is he who has found wisdom! Yet there is none greater than one who fears the Lord.

11The fear of the Lord surpasses all things. To whom shall he who holds it be likened?

12⁶²

13Any wound but a wound of the heart! Any wickedness but the wickedness of a woman!

14Any calamity but a calamity from those who hate me! Any vengeance but the vengeance of enemies!

15There is no venom worse than a snake’s venom. There is no wrath worse than an enemy’s wrath.

16I would rather dwell with a lion and a dragon than keep house with a wicked woman.

17The wickedness of a woman changes her appearance, and darkens her countenance like that of a bear.

18Her husband will sit amongst his neighbours, and when he hears it, he sighs bitterly.

19All malice is small compared to the malice of a woman. Let the portion of a sinner fall on her.

20As walking up a sandy hill is to the feet of the aged, so is a wife full of words to a quiet man.

21Don’t be ensnared by a woman’s beauty. Don’t desire a woman for her beauty.

22There is anger, impudence, and great reproach if a woman supports her husband.

23A wicked woman is abasement of heart, sadness of countenance, and a wounded heart. A woman who won’t make her husband happy is like hands that hang down, and weak knees.

24The beginning of sin came from a woman. Because of her, we all die.

25Don’t give water an outlet, and don’t give a wicked woman freedom of speech.

26If she doesn’t go as you direct, cut her away from your flesh. ⁶³