Of good and bad women.

Ecclesiasticus Chapter 26

26:1. Happy is the husband of a good wife: for the number of his years is double.
Mulieris bonae beatus vir numerus enim annorum illorum duplex

26:2. A virtuous woman rejoiceth her husband, and shall fulfil the years of his life in peace.
Mulier fortis oblectat virum suum et annos vitae illius in pace implebit

26:3. A good wife is a good portion, she shall be given in the portion of them that fear God, to a man for his good deeds.
Pars bona mulier bona in parte bona timentium Deum dabitur viro pro factis bonis

26:4. Rich or poor, if his heart is good, his countenance shall be cheerful at all times.
Divitis autem et pauperis cor bonum in omni tempore vultus illorum hilaris

26:5. Of three things my heart hath been afraid, and at the fourth my face hath trembled:
A tribus timuit cor meum et in quarto facies mea metuit

26:6. The accusation of a city, and the gathering together of the people: Delatura civitatis et collectio populi

26:7. And a false calumny, all are more grievous than death.
Et calumniam mendacem super mortem omnia gravia

26:8. A jealous woman is the grief and mourning of the heart.
Dolor cordis et luctus mulier zelotypa

26:9. With a jealous woman is a scourge of the tongue which communicateth with all.
In muliere infideli flagellum linguae omnibus communicans

26:10. As a yoke of oxen that is moved to and fro, so also is a wicked woman: he that hath hold of her, is as he that taketh hold of a scorpion. Sicut boum iugum quod movetur ita et mulierem nequam qui tenet illam quasi qui adprehendat scorpionem

26:11. A drunken woman is a great wrath: and her reproach and shame shall not be hid.
Mulier ebriosa ira magna et contumelia et turpitudo illius non contegetur

26:12. The fornication of a woman shall be known by the haughtiness of her eyes and by her eyelids.
Fornicatio mulieris in extollentia oculorum et in palpebris illius agnoscetur

26:13. On a daughter that turneth not away herself, set a strict watch: lest finding an opportunity she abuse herself.
In filia non avertente se firma custodiam ne inventa occasione utatur se

26:14. Take heed of the impudence of her eyes, and wonder not if she slight thee.
Ab omni inreverentia oculis cave et ne mireris si te neglexerit

26:15. She will open her mouth as a thirsty traveller to the fountain, and will drink of every water near her, and will sit down by every hedge, and open her quiver against every arrow, until she fail.
Sicut viator sitiens ad fontem os aperiet et ab omni aqua proxima bibet et contra omnem palum sedebit et contra omnem sagittam aperiet faretram donec deficiat

26:16. The grace of a diligent woman shall delight her husband, and shall fat his bones.
Gratia mulieris sedulae delectabit virum suum et ossa illius inpinguabit

26:17. Her discipline is the gift of God.
Disciplina illius datus Dei

26:18. Such is a wise and silent woman, and there is nothing so much worth as a well instructed soul.
Mulier sensata et tacita non est inmutatio eruditae animae

26:19. A holy and shamefaced woman is grace upon grace.
Gratia super gratiam mulier sancta et pudorata

26:20. And no price is worthy of a continent soul.
Omnis autem ponderatio non est digna continentis animae

26:21. As the sun when it riseth to the world in the high places of God, so is the beauty of a good wife for the ornament of her house.
Sicut sol oriens mundo in altissimis Dei sic mulieris bonae species in ornamentum domus eius

26:22. As the lamp shining upon the holy candlestick, so is the beauty of the face in a ripe age,
Lucerna splendens super candelabrum sanctum et species faciei super aetatem stabilem

26:23. As golden pillars upon bases of silver, so are the firm feet upon the soles of a steady woman.
Columnae aureae super bases argenteas et pedes firmi super plantas stabilis mulieris

26:24. As everlasting foundations upon a solid rock, so the commandments of God in the heart of a holy woman.
Fundamenta aeterna super petram solidam et mandata Dei in corde mulieris sanctae

26:25. At two things my heart is grieved, and the third bringeth anger upon me.
In duobus contristatum est cor meum et in tertio iracundia mihi advenit

26:26. A man of war fainting through poverty, and a man of sense despised:
Vir bellator deficiens per inopiam et vir sensatus contemptus

26:27. And he that passeth over from justice to sin, God hath prepared such an one for the sword.
Et qui transgreditur a iustitia ad peccatum Deus paravit eum ad rompheam

26:28. Two sorts of callings have appeared to me hard and dangerous: a merchant is hardly free from negligence: and a huckster shall not be justified from the sins of the lips.*
Duae species difficiles et periculosae mihi apparuerunt difficile exuitur negotians a neglegentia et non iustificabitur caupo a peccatis labiae


*NOTE
VERSE 28. From negligence... That is, from the neglect of the service of God: because the eager pursuit of the mammon of this world, is apt to make men of that calling forget the great duties of loving God above all things, and their neighbours as themselves. -- Ibid. A huckster... Or, a retailer of wine. Men of that profession are both greatly exposed to danger of sin themselves, and are too often accessary to the sins of others.