Septuagint Bible w/ Apocrypha LXX
New Revised Standard w/ Apocrypha NRSA
1 In three things I was beautified, and stood up beautiful both before God and men: the unity of brethren, the love of neighbours, a man and a wife that agree together.
1
I take pleasure in three things, and they are beautiful in the sight of God and of mortals: agreement among brothers and sisters, friendship among neighbors, and a wife and a husband who live in harmony.
2 Three sorts of men my soul hateth, and I am greatly offended at their life: a poor man that is proud, a rich man that is a liar, and an old adulterer that doateth.
2
I hate three kinds of people, and I loathe their manner of life: a pauper who boasts, a rich person who lies, and an old fool who commits adultery.
3 If thou hast gathered nothing in thy youth, how canst thou find any thing in thine age?
3
If you gathered nothing in your youth, how can you find anything in your old age?
4 O how comely a thing is judgment for gray hairs, and for ancient men to know counsel!
4
How attractive is sound judgment in the gray-haired, and for the aged to possess good counsel!
5 O how comely is the wisdom of old men, and understanding and counsel to men of honour.
5
How attractive is wisdom in the aged, and understanding and counsel in the venerable!
6 Much experience is the crown of old men, and the fear of God is their glory.
6
Rich experience is the crown of the aged, and their boast is the fear of the Lord.
7 There be nine things which I have judged in mine heart to be happy, and the tenth I will utter with my tongue: A man that hath joy of his children; and he that liveth to see the fall of his enemy:
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 Well is him that dwelleth with a wife of understanding, and that hath not slipped with his tongue, and that hath not served a man more unworthy than himself:
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 Well is him that hath found prudence, and he that speaketh in the ears of them that will hear:
9
Happy is the one who finds a friend, and the one who speaks to attentive listeners.
10 O how great is he that findeth wisdom! yet is there none above him that feareth the Lord.
10
How great is the one who finds wisdom! But none is superior to the one who fears the Lord.
11 But the love of the Lord passeth all things for illumination: he that holdeth it, whereto shall he be likened?
11
Fear of the Lord surpasses everything; to whom can we compare the one who has it?
12 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of his love: and faith is the beginning of cleaving unto him.
13 any plague, but the plague of the heart: and any wickedness, but the wickedness of a woman:
13
Any wound, but not a wound of the heart! Any wickedness, but not the wickedness of a woman!
14 And any affliction, but the affliction from them that hate me: and any revenge, but the revenge of enemies.
14
Any suffering, but not suffering from those who hate! And any vengeance, but not the vengeance of enemies!
15 There is no head above the head of a serpent; and there is no wrath above the wrath of an enemy.
15
There is no venom worse than a snake's venom, and no anger worse than a woman's wrath.
16 I had rather dwell with a lion and a dragon, than to keep house with a wicked woman.
16
I would rather live with a lion and a dragon than live with an evil woman.
17 The wickedness of a woman changeth her face, and darkeneth her countenance like sackcloth.
17
A woman's wickedness changes her appearance, and darkens her face like that of a bear.
18 Her husband shall sit among his neighbours; and when he heareth it shall sigh bitterly.
18
Her husband sits among the neighbors, and he cannot help sighing bitterly.
19 All wickedness is but little to the wickedness of a woman: let the portion of a sinner fall upon her.
19
Any iniquity is small compared to a woman's iniquity; may a sinner's lot befall her!
20 As the climbing up a sandy way is to the feet of the aged, so is a wife full of words to a quiet man.
20
A sandy ascent for the feet of the aged— such is a garrulous wife to a quiet husband.
21 Stumble not at the beauty of a woman, and desire her not for pleasure.
21
Do not be ensnared by a woman's beauty, and do not desire a woman for her possessions.
22 A woman, if she maintain her husband, is full of anger, impudence, and much reproach.
22
There is wrath and impudence and great disgrace when a wife supports her husband.
23 A wicked woman abateth the courage, maketh an heavy countenance and a wounded heart: a woman that will not comfort her husband in distress maketh weak hands and feeble knees.
23
Dejected mind, gloomy face, and wounded heart come from an evil wife. Drooping hands and weak knees come from the wife who does not make her husband happy.
24 Of the woman came the beginning of sin, and through her we all die.
24
From a woman sin had its beginning, and because of her we all die.
25 Give the water no passage; neither a wicked woman liberty to gad abroad.
25
Allow no outlet to water, and no boldness of speech to an evil wife.
26 If she go not as thou wouldest have her, cut her off from thy flesh, and give her a bill of divorce, and let her go.
26
If she does not go as you direct, separate her from yourself.
The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.
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.