Ben Sira - chapter 25

25: 1-11, 13-26 (translated by Edgar Goodspeed)
In three things I show my beauty and stand up in beauty before the Lord and of mortals:
harmony among brothers, and friendship among neighbors, and wife and husband suited to each other.  But three kinds of people my soul hates, and I am greatly angrered at their existence: a poor man who boasts, and a rich man who lies, and an old man who is an adulterer and lacks understanding.  If you have not gathered in your youth, how can you find anything in your old age?  How beautiful judgment is for hoary hair, and the knowledge of what to advise for the elderly?  How beautiful is the wisdom of the aged, and consideration and counsel in the venerable.  Rich experience is the crown of the aged, and their boast is the fear of the Lord. 
Nine things I have thought of and considered happy and a tenth I can mention with my tongue:  A man who is happy in his children; one who lives to see his enemies fall; blessed is the man who lives with a wife of understanding; and the one who does not slip with his tongue; and the one who is not a slave to his inferior; blessed is the man who finds good sense; and the one who discourses to the ears of those who listen; how great the man is who finds wisdom; but there is no one greater than the man who fears the Lord.  The fear of the Lord surpasses everything, to what can the man who possesses it be compared?  [verse 12 is not in the Greek version]
Any wound but a wounded heart!  And any wickedness but the wickedness of a woman!  Any calamity but a calamity brought about by those who hate you; and any vengeance but the vengeance of your enemies!  There is no head higher than a snake's head, and no anger greater than an enemy's.  I had rather keep house with a lion and a serpent than keep house with a wicked woman.  A woman's wickedness changes her looks, and darkens her face like a bear; her husband sits at table among his neighbors, and involuntarily groans bitterly.  Any malice is small to a woman's malice; may the lot of the sinner befall her!  Like a sandy climb to an old man's feet is a talkative wife to a quiet man.  Do not fall down before a woman's beauty, and do not greatly desire her for a wife.  It means anger and impudence and great disgrace, if a woman supports her husband.  A humbled mind and a downcast face, and a wounded heart mean a wicked wife.  A woman who does not make her husband happy means palsied hands and paralyzed knees.  Sin began with a woman (i.e. Eve) and because of her we all die.  Do not give water an outlet nor a wicked woman freedom to speak.  If she does not act as you would have her, cut her off from your person.
Happy is the man who has a good wife!  The number of his days is doubled.  A noble wife gladdens her husband, and he lives out his years in peace.  A good wife is good fortune; she falls to the lot of those who fear the Lord, whether rich or poor, he has a stout heart; and always has a cheerful face.