Sirach 37
Sirach chapter 37 from the John Wycliffe Bible (c.1395)
1 As a stiynge ful of grauel in the feet of an elde man, so is a womman a greet ianglere to a pesible man. 2 Biholde thou not the fairnesse of a womman, and coueyte thou not a womman for fairnesse. 3 The ire and vnreuerence of a womman is grete schenschipe. 4 If a womman hath the firste dignyte, ethir cheef gouernail, sche is contrarie to hir hosebonde. 5 A low herte, and soreuful face, and wounde of deeth, is a wickid womman. 6 Feble hondis and knees vnboundun, a womman that blessith not hir hosebonde. 7 The bygynnyng of synne was maad of a womman; and alle we dien bi hir. 8 Yyue thou not issu to thi watir, yhe, not a litil issu; nether to a wickid womman fredom of goyng forth. 9 If sche goith not at thin hond, sche schal schende thee in the siyt of enemyes. 10 Kitte hir a wei fro thi fleischis, lest euere sche mysvse thee. 12 The hosebonde of a good womman is blessid; for whi the noumbre of her yeeris is double. 13 A strong womman delitith hir hosebonde; and shal fille in pees the yeeris of his lijf. 14 A good womman is a good part; in the good part of hem that dreden God, sche schal be youun to a man for goode dedis. 15 Forsothe the herte of a riche man and of a pore man is good; in al tyme her cheer is glad. 16 Myn herte dredde of thre thingis, and my face dredde in the fourthe thing. 17 Bitraiyng of a citee, and the gadering togidere of puple, 18 and fals chaleng; alle thingis greuouse on deth. 19 The sorewe of herte, and morenyng is a ielouse womman. 20 In a gelouse womman is betyng of tunge, and sche comyneth with alle men. 21 As a yok of oxis which is mouyd, so and a wickid womman; he that holdith hir, is as he that takith a scorpioun. 22 A drunkelew womman is greet ire, and dispisyng; and hir filthe schal not be hilid. 23 The fornycacioun of a womman is in the reisyng of yyen; and schal be knowun in the iye liddis of hir. 24 Make thou sad kepyng in a douytir not turnynge a wei hir silf; lest sche mysvse hir silf, if sche fyndith occasioun. 25 Be thou war of al vnreuerence of hir iyen; and wondre thou not, if sche dispisith thee. 26 As a weiegoere thirstynge schal opene the mouth at a welle, and schal drynke of ech watir next; and the forseid douytir schal sitte ayens ech pale, and schal opene the arowe caas ayens ech arowe, til sche faile. 27 The grace of a bisi womman schal delite hir hosebonde; and schal make fat hise boonus. 28 The kunnyng of hir is the yifte of God. 29 A wijs womman and stille is not chaungyng of a lernyd soule. 30 Grace on grace is an hooli womman, and schamfast. 31 Forsothe al weiyng is not worth a contynent soule.
