ECCLESIASTICUS CHAPTER 26 (ORIGINAL 1611 KJV)

The actual, original, first printing of the 1611 King James Version (‘HE’ Bible) — Ecclesiasticus Chapter 26.

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Ecclesiasticus Chapter 26 Original 1611 KJV Bible Scan

CHAP. XXVI.

1 A good wife, 4 and a good conscience doe glad men. 6 A wicked wife is a feareful thing. 13 Of good and bad wiues. 28 Of three things that are grieuous. 29 Merchants and hucksters are not without sinne.

¹ Blessed is the man that hath a vertuous wife, for the number of his dayes shall be double.

² A vertuous woman reioyceth her husband, and he shall fulfill the yeeres of his life in peace.

³ A good wife is a good portion, which shall be giuen in the portion of them that feare the Lord.

⁴ Whether a man be rich or poore, if he haue a good heart towards the Lord, he shall at all times reioyce with a cheerefull countenance.

⁵ There bee three things that mine heart feareth: and for the fourth I was sore afraid: the slander of a citie, the gathering together of an vnruly multitude, and a false accusation: all these are worse then death.⁵

⁶ But a griefe of heart and sorrow, is a woman that is ielous ouer another woman, and a scourge of the tongue which communicateth withall.

⁷ An euil wife is a yoke shaken to and fro: he that hath hold of her, is as though he held a scorpion.⁷

⁸ A drunken woman and a gadder abroad, causeth great anger, and shee will not couer her owne shame.

⁹ The whordome of a woman may be knowen in her haughtie lookes, and eye lids.

¹⁰ If thy daughter be shamelesse, keepe her in straitly: lest she abuse her selfe through ouermuch libertie.¹⁰

¹¹ Watch ouer an impudent eye: and marueile not, if shee trespasse against thee.

¹² Shee will open her mouth as a thirstie traueiler, when he hath found a fountaine: and drinke of euery water neere her: by euery hedge will she sit downe, and open her quiuer against euery arrow.¹²

¹³ The grace of a wife delighteth her husband, and her discretion will fat his bones.

¹⁴ A silent and louing woman is a gift of the Lord, and there is nothing so much worth, as a mind well instructed.

¹⁵ A shamefast and faithfull woman is a double grace, and her continent mind cannot be valued.

¹⁶ As the Sunne when it ariseth in the high heauen: so is the beautie of a good wife in the ordering of her house.¹⁶

¹⁷ As the cleare light is vpon the holy candlesticke: so is the beautie of the face in ripe age.¹⁷

¹⁸ As the golden pillars are vpon the sockets of siluer: so are the faire feete with a constant heart.¹⁸

¹⁹ My sonne, keepe the flowre of thine age sound: and giue not thy strength to strangers.

²⁰ When thou hast gotten a fruitfull possession through all the field: sowe it with thine owne seede, trusting in the goodnesse of thy stocke.

²¹ So thy race which thou leauest shalbe magnified, hauing the confidence of their good descent.

²² An harlot shall bee accounted as spittle: but a maried woman is a towre against death to her husband.²²

²³ A wicked woman is giuen as a portion to a wicked man: but a godly woman is giuen to him that feareth the Lord.

²⁴ A dishonest woman contemneth shame, but an honest woman will reuerence her husband.

²⁵ A shamelesse woman shalbe counted as a dog: but she that is shamefast will feare the Lord.

²⁶ A woman that honoureth her husband, shall bee iudged wise of all: but she that dishonoureth him in her pride, shall be counted vngodly of all.

²⁷ A loude crying woman, and a scolde, shall be sought out to driue away the enemies.

²⁸ There be two things that grieue my heart: and the third maketh me angry: a man of warre that suffereth pouerty, and men of vnderstanding that are not set by: and one that returneth from righteousnesse to sinne: the Lord prepareth such a one for the sword.

²⁹ A merchant shall hardly keepe himselfe from doing wrong: and an huckster shall not be freed from sinne.

Ecclesiasticus Chapter 26 Sidenote References (from Original 1611 KJV Bible)

⁵ Gr. an euill report.
⁷ Or, a yoke of oxen.
¹⁰ Chap. 44. 11.
¹² Or stake.
¹⁶ Gre. in the highest places of the Lord. , Or, ornament.
¹⁷ Or, in constant age.
¹⁸ Or, comely. , Or, brest.
²² Or, a swine.

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Ecclesiasticus

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