Chapter 25

  With three things my spirit is pleased, which are approved before God and men:  

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  The concord of brethren, and the love of neighbours, and mall and wife that agree well together.  

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  Three sorts my soul hateth, and I am greatly grieved at their life:  

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  A poor man that is proud: a rich man that is a liar: an old man that is a fool, and doting.  

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  The things that thou hast not gathered in thy youth, how shalt thou find them in thy old age?  

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  O how comely is judgment for a grey head, and for ancients to know counsel!  

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  O how comely is wisdom for the aged, and understanding and counsel to men of honour!  

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  Much experience is the crown of old men, and the fear of God is their glory.  

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  Nine things that are not to be imagined by the heart have I magnified, and the tenth I will utter to men with my tongue.  

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  A man that hath joy of his children: and he that liveth and seeth the fall of his enemies.  

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  Blessed 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.  

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  Blessed is he that findeth a true friend, and that declareth justice to an ear that heareth.  

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  How great is he that findeth wisdom and knowledge! but there is none above him that feareth the Lord.  

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  The fear of God hath set itself above all things:  

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  Blessed is the man, to whom it is given to have the fear of God: he that holdeth it, to whom shall he be likened?  

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  The fear of God is the beginning of his love: and the beginning of faith is to be fast joined unto it.  

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  The sadness of the heart is every plague: and the wickedness of a woman is all evil.  

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  And a man will choose any plague, but the plague of the heart:  

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  And ally wickedness, but the wickedness of a woman:  

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  And any affliction, but the affliction from them that hate him:  

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  And ally revenge, but the revenge of enemies.  

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  There is no head worse than the head of a serpent:  

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  And there is no anger above the anger of a woman. It will be more agreeable to abide with a lion and a dragon, than to dwell with a wicked woman.  

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  The wickedness of a woman changeth her face: and she darkeneth her countenance as a bear: and sheweth it like sackcloth. In the midst of her neighbours,  

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  Her husband groaned, and hearing he sighed a little.  

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  All malice is shore to the malice of a woman, let the lot of sinners fall upon her.  

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  As the climbing of a sandy way is to the feet of the aged, so is a wife full of tongue to a quiet man.  

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  Look not upon a woman's beauty, and desire not a woman for beauty.  

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  A woman's anger, and impudence, and confusion is great.  

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  A woman, if she have superiority, is contrary to her husband.  

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  A wicked woman abateth the courage, and maketh a heavy countenance, and a wounded heart.  

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  Feeble hands, and disjointed knees, a woman that doth not make her husband happy.  

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  From the woman came the beginning of sin, and by her we all die.  

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  Give no issue to thy water, no, not a little: nor to a wicked woman liberty to gad abroad.  

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  If she walk not at thy hand, she will confound thee in the sight of thy enemies.  

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  Cut her off from thy flesh, lest she always abuse thee.  

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