1 In three matters I was adorned,
And stood in loveliness both before Elohim and man:
The oneness of brothers, the love of neighbours,
A man and wife that agree together.
2 Three sorts of men my being hates,
And I greatly loathe of their life:
A poor man who is proud, a wealthy man who is a liar,
And an old adulterer who is foolish.
3 If you have gathered naught in your youth,
How shall you find any matter in your old age?
4 O how lovely is judgment for grey hairs,
And for the aged to know counsel!
5 O how lovely is the wisdom of old men,
And understanding and counsel in men of esteem.
6 Much experience is the crown of old men,
And the reverence of Elohim is their esteem.
7 There are nine which I have judged in my heart to be baruḵ,
And the tenth I shall relate with my tongue:
A man that has joy from his children;
And he who lives to see the fall of his enemy.
8 Good is he who dwells with a wife of understanding,
And that has not slipped with his tongue,
And that has not served a man more unworthy than himself.
9 Good is he who has found insight,
And he who speaks in the ears of those who listen.
10 O how great is he who finds wisdom!
Yet there is none above he who reveres 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄.
11 But the love of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 passes all in understanding;
He who possesses it, to what shall he be likened?
12 The reverence of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 is the beginning of His love;
And belief is the beginning of clinging to Him.
13 Any wound, but a wound of the heart;
And any wickedness, but the wickedness of a woman.
14 And any affliction, but the affliction from those who hate me;
And any revenge, but the revenge of enemies.
15 There is no venom above the venom of a serpent;
And there is no wrath above the wrath of an enemy.
16 I would rather dwell with a lion and a dragon,
Than to dwell in a house with a wicked woman.
17 The wickedness of a woman changes her appearance,
And darkens her face like sackcloth.
18 Her husband shall sit among his neighbours;
And listening he shall sigh bitterly.
19 All wickedness is but little to the wickedness of a woman;
Let the portion of a sinner fall upon her.
20 As the climbing of a sandy way is to the feet of the aged,
So is a wife full of words to a quiet man.
21 Do not stumble at the loveliness of a woman,
And do not desire her for pleasure.
22 A woman supporting her husband,
Is full of wrath, hardness, and much reproach.
23 A wicked woman causes courage to cease,
Causes a heavy face and a wounded heart;
A woman that does not comfort her husband in distress
Causes weak hands and feeble knees.
24 From the woman came the beginning of sin,
And because of her we all die.
25 Give water no outlet;
Nor a wicked woman freedom to roam.
26 If she does not do as you would have her,
Cut her off from yourself,
And give her a certificate of divorce, and let her go.