Ben Sira 25:4-14

4 How attractive is sound judgment in the gray-haired, and for the aged to possess good counsel!
5 How attractive is wisdom in the aged, and understanding and counsel in the venerable!
6 Rich experience is the crown of the aged, and their boast is the fear of the Lord.
7 I can think of nine whom I would call blessed, and a tenth my tongue proclaims: a man who can rejoice in his children; a man who lives to see the downfall of his foes.
8 Happy the man who lives with a sensible wife, and the one who does not plow with ox and ass together. Happy is the one who does not sin with the tongue, and the one who has not served an inferior.
9 Happy is the one who finds a friend, and the one who speaks to attentive listeners.
10 How great is the one who finds wisdom! But none is superior to the one who fears the Lord.
11 Fear of the Lord surpasses everything; to whom can we compare the one who has it?
13 Any wound, but not a wound of the heart! Any wickedness, but not the wickedness of a woman!
14 Any suffering, but not suffering from those who hate! And any vengeance, but not the vengeance of enemies!

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. Heb Syr: Gk lacks [and the one who does not plow with ox and ass together]
  • [b]. Lat Syr: Gk [good sense]
  • [c]. Other ancient authorities add as verse 12, [The fear of the Lord is the beginning of love for him, and faith is the beginning of clinging to him.]
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.