Ben Sira 25:7

7 I will tell you about ten kinds of people that I feel fortunate to know, especially fortunate in the case of the tenth: someone who takes pride in his children, someone who lives to see his enemies fall, 8 a man fortunate enough to have an understanding wife, a married couple who are well-matched, a person who never speaks sinfully, a person who doesn't have to work for someone less competent than himself, 9 someone fortunate enough to have a real friend, a person that people are happy to listen to, 10 and the really great one: someone who is wise. But the greatest one of all is the person who fears the Lord.

Ben Sira 25:7 In-Context

5 Wisdom, understanding, and sound counsel are appropriate to the aged and the respected.

6 Elderly people wear the crown of long experience, and they can boast of nothing finer than their fear of the Lord.

7 I will tell you about ten kinds of people that I feel fortunate to know, especially fortunate in the case of the tenth: someone who takes pride in his children, someone who lives to see his enemies fall, 8 a man fortunate enough to have an understanding wife, a married couple who are well-matched, a person who never speaks sinfully, a person who doesn't have to work for someone less competent than himself, 9 someone fortunate enough to have a real friend, a person that people are happy to listen to, 10 and the really great one: someone who is wise. But the greatest one of all is the person who fears the Lord.

Footnotes

• [a]. [Hebrew and one ancient translation] a married couple . . . well-matched; [Greek does not have these words.]
• [b]. [Some ancient translations] real friend; [Greek] good sense.