1 Blessed is the man that hath a virtuous wife, for the number of his days shall be double.
2 A virtuous woman rejoiceth her husband, and he shall fulfil the years of his life in peace.
3 A good wife is a good portion, which shall be given in the portion of them that fear the Lord.
4 Whether a man be rich or poor, if he have a good heart toward the Lord, he shall at all times rejoice with a cheerful countenance.
5 There be three things that mine heart feareth; and for the fourth I was sore afraid: the slander of a city, the gathering together of an unruly multitude, and a false accusation: all these are worse than death.
6 But a grief of heart and sorrow is a woman that is jealous over another woman, and a scourge of the tongue which communicateth with all.
7 An evil wife is a yoke shaken to and fro: he that hath hold of her is as though he held a scorpion.
8 A drunken woman and a gadder abroad causeth great anger, and she will not cover her own shame.
9 The whoredom of a woman may be known in her haughty looks and eyelids.
10 If thy daughter be shameless, keep her in straitly, lest she abuse herself through overmuch liberty.
11 Watch over an impudent eye: and marvel not if she trespass against thee.
12 She will open her mouth, as a thirsty traveller when he hath found a fountain, and drink of every water near her: by every hedge will she sit down, and open her quiver against every arrow.
13 The grace of a wife delighteth her husband, and her discretion will fatten his bones.
14 A silent and loving woman is a gift of the Lord; and there is nothing so much worth as a mind well instructed.
15 A shamefaced and faithful woman is a double grace, and her continent mind cannot be valued.
16 As the sun when it ariseth in the high heaven; so is the beauty of a good wife in the ordering of her house.
17 As the clear light is upon the holy candlestick; so is the beauty of the face in ripe age.
18 As the golden pillars are upon the sockets of silver; so are the fair feet with a constant heart.
19 My son, keep the flower of thine age sound; and give not thy strength to strangers.
20 When thou hast gotten a fruitful possession through all the field, sow it with thine own seed, trusting in the goodness of thy stock.
21 So thy race which thou leavest shall be magnified, having the confidence of their good descent.
22 An harlot shall be accounted as spittle; but a married woman is a tower against death to her husband.
23 A wicked woman is given as a portion to a wicked man: but a godly woman is given to him that feareth the Lord.
24 A dishonest woman contemneth shame: but an honest woman will reverence her husband.
25 A shameless woman shall be counted as a dog; but she that is shamefaced will fear the Lord.
26 A woman that honoureth her husband shall be judged wise of all; but she that dishonoureth him in her pride shall be counted ungodly of all.
27 A loud crying woman and a scold shall be sought out to drive away the enemies.
28 There be two things that grieve my heart; and the third maketh me angry: a man of war that suffereth poverty; and men of understanding that are not set by; and one that returneth from righteousness to sin; the Lord prepareth such an one for the sword.
29 A merchant shall hardly keep himself from doing wrong; and an huckster shall not be freed from sin.
Laba sieva
1 Svētlaimīgs vīrs, kam laba sieva,
divkāršs viņa dienu skaits.
2 Braša sieva ielīksmo vīru,
mierā aizritēs viņa mūžs.
3 Laba sieva ir liela laime,
tiem dāvāta, kas bijā Kungu;
4 sirds ir laimīga, bagāts vai nabags,
jebkurā brīdī līksma ir seja.
Ļauna sieva
5 No trijiem es sirdī vairos,
ar ceturto sastopoties, pārakmeņojos:
pilsētas tenkas, salasījušos pūli, apmelojumus,
tas viss – nožēlojamāks par nāvi,
6 bet sievietes dēļ greizsirdīga sieva – tā ir nelaime un sirdēsti;
un kopīga tiem visiem – mēle šaustītāja.
7 Sakas, kas cilājas, – ļauna sieva.
Kā skorpionu satvēris ir tas, kam tāda ir.
8 Sieva dzērāja izraisa lielas dusmas,
tā nekaunēsies un neaizsegsies;
9 pēc sabangota skatiena un plakstiņiem
var pazīt sievu laulības pārkāpēju.
10 Stingri uzraugi tiepīgu meiteni,
lai, atradusi iecietību, to neizmanto.
11 Uzmani nekautras acis –
un nebrīnies, ja tevi pievils:
12 kā muti ver izslāpis ceļinieks,
jebkuru ūdeni, kas tuvumā, dzer,
tā viņa atsēžas ikkuram vadzim iepretī
un kurai katrai šautrai atver maku.
Laba sieva
13 Sievas pievilcīgums ielīksmo vīru,
viņas prasmīgums ieeļļo kaulus.
14 Kunga dāvana ir klusa sieva,
izglītoto neatsver nekas;
15 pievilcīgāka par pievilcīgu ir kautra sieva,
par savaldīgu nekā vērtīgāka nav.
16 Kā saule ceļas Kunga debeslokā,
tā labas sievas skaistums – viņas nama rotā;
17 kā gaisma staro svētajā gaismeklī,
tā sejas skaistums – ziedošā augumā.
18 Kā zelta stabi sudraba pamatos,
tā briedušās kājas – krūšu tvirtumā.
Mudinājums apņemt labu sievu
19 Bērns, glabā neskartu savas jaunības ziedu
un neizdāļā svešiniekiem savu spēku!
20 Visu līdzenumu pārlūkojis auglīgu gabalu meklējumos,
ar savu paša sēklu apsēj, uz tās dižciltīgo izcelsmi paļaujoties, –
21 tad sakuplojuši, par savu dižciltīgo izcelsmi droši,
tavi dzinumi pieņemsies diži.
22 Uz pērkamu sievieti lūkojas kā uz spļaudekļiem,
uz precēto – kā nāves torni iebrucējiem.
23 Kas neievēro bauslību,
tas dabūs bezdievīgu sievu;
kas bijā Kungu, tas – dievbijīgu.
24 Sieva, kas kauna neprotas,
novalkās savu negodu;
meita, kas protas kauna,
arī pret savu vīru izturēsies ar godu.
25 Kā uz kuci – tā skatās uz tiepīgu sievu.
Kura protas kauna, tā bijā Kungu.
26 Par gudru visi uzskatīs sievu,
kas izturas godbijīgi pret vīru,
par bezdievīgu visi atzīs to,
kas savā augstprātībā izturas bez godbijības.
Svētlaimīgs vīrs, kam laba sieva,
divkāršosies viņa gadu skaits.
27 Kā uz kara tauri cīņas pavērsienā
mēdz raudzīties uz sievu ar skaļu un pļāpīgu muti;
pats sevi ieraus kara kņadā
ikviens vīrs, kam tāda pati daba.
Atstumtie un tirgoņi
28 Par diviem skumst mana sirds,
un trešais izraisa niknumu:
karavīrs, kas cieš trūkumu,
saprātīgie, ja par tiem ņirgājas,
bet, kas no taisnības atstājas grēkam par labu,
to pa zobenam noliks Kungs.
29 Nedz tirgotājam būs viegli glābties no vainas,
nedz attaisnos veikalnieku.
