This translation is from the New Revised Standard Version. Several other translations are available here.
Excerpts from definitions of what seem to be key the Greek words are set out following the scriptural text. The sources are hyperlinked.
That is followed by excerpts from the scriptural texts that tell us what about God or His ways, what we should do, and what we should not do.
That is followed by commentary, in blue. The commentary is my own, so it is not entitled to any particular weight.
Scriptural Text:
13Any wound, but not a wound of the heart! Any wickedness, but not the wickedness of a woman!
14Any suffering, but not suffering from those who hate! And any vengeance, but not the vengeance of enemies!
15There is no venom worse than a snake’s venom, and no anger worse than a woman’s wrath.
16I would rather live with a lion and a dragon than live with an evil woman.
17A woman’s wickedness changes her appearance, and darkens her face like that of a bear.
18Her husband sits among the neighbors, and he cannot help sighing bitterly.
19Any iniquity is small compared to a woman’s iniquity; may a sinner’s lot befall her!
20A sandy ascent for the feet of the aged—such is a garrulous wife to a quiet husband.
21Do not be ensnaredby a woman’s beauty, and do not desire a woman for her possessions.
22There is wrath and impudence and great disgrace when a wife supports her husband.
23Dejected 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.
24From a woman sin had its beginning, and because of her we all die.
25Allowno outlet to water, and no boldness of speech to an evil wife.
26If she does not go as you direct, separate her from yourself.
1Happy is the husband of a good wife; the number of his days will be doubled.
2A loyal wife brings joy to her husband, and he will complete his years in peace.
3A good wife is a great blessing; she will be granted among the blessings of the man who fears the Lord.
4Whether rich or poor, his heart is content, and at all times his face is cheerful.
5Of three things my heart is frightened, and of a fourth I am in great fear:
Slander in the city, the gathering of a mob, and false accusation—all these are worse than death.
6But it is heartache and sorrow when a wife is jealous of a rival, and a tongue-lashing makes it known to all.
7A bad wife is a chafing yoke; taking hold of her is like grasping a scorpion.
8A drunken wife arouses great anger; she cannot hide her shame.
9The haughty stare betrays an unchaste wife; her eyelids give her away.
10Keep strict watch over a headstrong daughter, or else, when she finds liberty, she will make use of it.
11Be on guard against her impudent eye, and do not be surprised if she sins against you.
12As a thirsty traveler opens his mouth and drinks from any water near him, so she will sit in front of every tent peg and open her quiver to the arrow.
13A wife’s charm delights her husband, and her skill puts flesh on his bones.
14A silent wife is a gift from the Lord, and nothing is so precious as her self-discipline.
15A modest wife adds charm to charm, and no scales can weigh the value of her chastity.
16Like the sun rising in the heights of the Lord, so is the beauty of a good wife in her well-ordered home.
17Like the shining lamp on the holy lampstand, so is a beautiful face on a stately figure.
18Like golden pillars on silver bases, so are shapely legs and steadfast feet.
Definitions:
ensnared = προσ·πίπτω
prostrate/fall before
Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon
fall against; fall upon, embrace, fasten on, fall down at another's feet, prostrate oneself
to fall down at or before; to fall towards anything; to “fall” down at one's feet, “fall” prostrate before; to fall forwards, fall down, prostrate one's self before, in homage or supplication
desire = επιποθησῃς
Long
Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon
desire besides or yearn after; feel the want of
allow = δίδωμι
Give; assign, concede, hand over, /offer, grant/bestow(to an inferior)
Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon
grant, assign; hand over, deliver up; concede in argument; give oneself up, devote oneself
give, grant, bestow;to grant, give to one asking, let have; to give over to one's care, intrust, commit; to follow him as a leader and master; to grant or permit one; suffer, take, utter, yield; to commission
separate = ἀπό
starting from (coming from, since [the start of], in order from), away/out from (from among), sent by, removingly from, receptively from, resulting/produced from, or because of (due to).
Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon
of Motion, from, away from; departure from; of Position, away from, far from
of separation; of any kind of separation of one thing from another by which the union or fellowship of the two is destroyed; of a state of separation, that is of distance; away (from something near);departing, fleeing, removing, expelling, throwing; the separation of a part from the whole; where of a whole some part is taken; desisting, abstaining, avoiding
strict = στερεόω
Solidify
Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon
make firm or solid; strengthen; confirm;
hard, firm, solid; to make solid, make firm, strengthen, make strong; to solidify
watch = φυλακην
prison/guard
Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon
guard, protection
to guard; a watching, keeping watch; guarding or guard
on guard = φυλαξαι
Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon
keep watch and ward, keep guard; to be on one's guard; bear it in mind; act cautiously; beware of, be on one's guard against; take care
What this passage tells us:
What this passage tells us about God/His ways:
Any wickedness, but not the wickedness of a woman!
no anger worse than a woman’s wrath.
17A woman’s wickedness changes her appearance
19Any iniquity is small compared to a woman’s iniquity
23Dejected 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.
1Happy is the husband of a good wife; the number of his days will be doubled.
2A loyal wife brings joy to her husband, and he will complete his years in peace.
3A good wife is a great blessing; she will be granted among the blessings of the man who fears the Lord.
7A bad wife is a chafing yoke; taking hold of her is like grasping a scorpion.
13A wife’s charm delights her husband
her skill puts flesh on his bones.
14A silent wife is a gift from the Lord
What this passage tells us to do:
25Allow no outlet to water, and no boldness of speech to an evil wife.
26If she does not go as you direct, separate her from yourself.
fears the Lord.
10Keep strict watch over a headstrong daughter
What this passage tells us not to do:
21Do not be ensnared by a woman’s beauty
do not desire a woman for her possessions.
22There is wrath and impudence and great disgrace when a wife supports her husband
Commentary:
This passage reiterates themes set out in other scriptures on marriage:
· That a wife/marriage is a gift from God.
· That we as husbands are inextricably connected to/affected by our wives; their status/behavior affects us—for good or ill. See Ephesians 5:28-30, 1 Peter 3:17.
· We have to be careful not to lose our head over women. See Sirach 9:1-9
Most of this passage warns/directs us about picking a wife, there is not much here about how to live with one.
Sirach 25:10
· As seen elsewhere, men have to retain self-control, not be governed by their lust/sexual desires, in dealing with their spouses/prospective spouses.
Sirach 25:25-26.
· We are not to let our wives dominate, overwhelm, wear us down when they are in error/in the wrong.
· We instead are to disengage when they are going into that territory; avoid getting down into that fight/mud.
· This direction is consistent with Sirach 9:1-9.
· It is also consistent with the idea in Ephesians 5:23 and 1 Peter 3:17 that the husband is the head of, the more capable one in, the relationship.
· It is also consistent with the direction that we are to love/cleanse/nurture our wives as Christ loved the church. See Ephesians 5:25-27. One cannot do those things if he lets himself get consumed by/drawn into error/dysfunction. Indeed, Jesus would not do that when He dealt with people in that state; He would instead point out what was right; invite them to it, but usually would not fight with them about the issue.
· Some of the translations of Sirach 25:26 equate separating with divorce. That does not seem consistent with loving/cleansing your wife as Jesus loves the church, per Ephesians 5:25-27; you can’t do that after divorce. More importantly, Jesus does not divorce himself from His church when we are in error/dysfunction, but instead sticks with and tries to correct us. That would also directly contradict Jesus’ strong, near absolute, prohibition of divorce. See Matthew 5:31-32; Matthew 19:3-9.
Sirach 26:10-11
· This parallels Sirach 25:25-26 in that it counsels the husband to retain focus on his role as the guiding head of the relationship.
· It speaks to the need to be alert to things that dirty/ unhealthy for, the wife, to tie this into the cleansing/nurturing concept of Ephesians 5:25-27. That need to be alert to the possibility of such things is consistent with the concept of “understanding” in 1 Peter 3:17.
Overall
· We have to be intentional about how we deal with our wives/their attitudes/behavior, be aware of what is going on
· That seems to be part of the cleaning/nurturing discussed in Ephesians 5:25-27 and exercising “understanding” per 1 Peter 3:17.
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