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The Book of Sirach, also known as Ecclesiasticus, was written in
the second century BC by Jewish authors in Alexandria.
To understand the text, we should remember:
- The book is mainly a collection of separate proverbs and sayings
which the author(s) grouped roughly in related categories. This explains both
rythmic pairs of the lines, the irregular structure and the unpolished
sharpness of some of the verses.
- Since it is mainly drawn from Jewish popular wisdom, it reflects
the Old Testament bias against women.
- Most of the negative passages criticise ‘bad wives’ in
contrast to ‘good wives’ who are praised in other sections. However,
through poor translation and a misunderstanding of this context, some verses
were illegitimately extended as if they were a general judgment on all women!
This clearly falls outside the ‘literal
sense’ of the text and the scope intended by
the author(s).
- The negative judgments contain popular
opinions and rationalizations and may not be taken to impart inspired
teaching. In spite of this they were freely quoted by Fathers of the Church and
theologians as God's own
The text itself: Sirach 25,13 - 16,18
I follow the translation in the Jerusalem Bible,
Darton, Longman & Todd, London 1966, pp.1070-1071. The subheadings in the
text are my own. I have put into italics the phrases which are most often
(mis)quoted!
Life with a troublesome wife
“Any wound rather than a wound of the heart!
Any spite rather than
the spite of woman!
Any evil rather than an evil caused by an enemy!
Any vengeance rather than the vengeance of a foe!
There is no poison,
worse than the poison of a snake,
there is no fury worse than the fury of
an enemy.
I would sooner keep house with a lion or a dragon
than keep
house with a spiteful wife.” (verses 13-16)
“A woman’s spite changes her appearance
and makes her face as
grim as any bear’s.
When her husband goes out to dinner with his
neighbours,
he cannot helps heaving bitter sighs. ” (verses
17-18)
“No wickedness comes anywhere near the wickedness of a woman,
may a sinner’s lot be hers!” (verse 19)
“ As climbing up a sandhill is for elderly feet
such is a garrulous wife for a quiet husband.
Do not be taken in by a
woman’s beauty,
never lose your head over a woman.” (verses
20-21)
“ Bad temper, insolence and shame hold sway
where the wife supports the husband.
Low spirits, gloomy face, stricken
heart:
such the achievements of a spiteful wife.
Slack hands and
sagging knees
indicate a wife who makes her husband wretched.”
(verses 22-23)
“Sin began with a woman,
and thanks to her we all must die.
Do not let water find a leak,
do not allow a spiteful woman free
rein for her tongue.
If she will not do as you tell her,
get rid of
her.” (verses 24-26)
Life with a caring wife
“ Happy the husband of a really good wife;
the
number of his days will be doubled.
A perfect wife is the joy of her
husband,
he will live out the years of his life in peace.
A good wife
is the best of portions,
reserved for those who fear the Lord;
rich
or poor, they will be glad of heart,
cheerful of face, whatever the
season.” (Chapter 26, verses 1-4)
Suffering brought by an unruly wife
“There are three things my heart dreads,
and a fourth which terrifies
me:
slander by a whole town, the gathering of a mob,
and a false
accusation—these are all worse than death;
but a woman jealous of a
woman means heartbreak and sorrow,
and all this is the scourge of the
tongue.” (verses 5-6)
“A bad wife is a badly fitting ox yoke,
trying to master her is
like grasping a scorpion.
A drunken wife will goad anyone to fury,
she makes no effort to hide her degradation.” (verses 7-8)
Daughters need to be kept in check
“ A woman’s wantonness shows in her bold
look,
and can be recognised by her sidelong glances.
Keep a headstrong
daughter under firm control,
or she will abuse any indulgence she receives.
Keep a strict watch on her shameless eye,
do not be surprised if she
disgraces you.
Like a thirsty traveller she will open her mouth
and
drink any water she comes across;
she will sit in front of every peg,
and open her quiver to any arrow. ” (verses 9 - 12)
Blessings brought by a good wife
“The grace of a wife will charm her husband,
her accomplishments will
make him the stronger.
A silent wife is a gift from the Lord,
no
price can be put on a well-trained character.
A modest wife is a boon
twice over,
a chaste character cannot be weighed on scales.
Like the
sun rising over the mountains of the Lord
is the beauty of a good wife in a
well-kept house.
Like the lamp shining on the sacred lamp-stance
is a
beautiful face on a well-proportioned body.
Like golden pillars on a
silver base
are shapely legs on firm-set heels.” (verses 13 -
18)
Additional text found in some manuscripts:
The good and evil wife compared
“Search the whole plain for a fertile field,
sow our own seed there, trusting in your own good stock.
Thus your
offspring will survive,
they will grow great, confident of their breeding,
A woman for hire is not worth spitting at,
but a lawful wife is as
strong as a tower.
A godless wife is assigned to a transgressor as his
fortune,
but a devout wife given to the man who fears the Lord.
A
shameless wife takes pleasure in disgracing herself,
a modest wife is
diffident even with her husband.
A headstrong wife is no more respected
than a dog,
but one with a sense of shame fears the Lord.
A wife who
respects her husband will be acknowledged wise by all.
but one who proudly
despises him will be known by all as wicked.
Happy the husband of a good
wife,
for the number of his days will be doubled.
A loud-mouthed,
gossiping wife is like a trumpet sounding the charge,
and any man saddled
with one spends his life in the turmoil of war.” (chapter
26,19-27)
John Wijngaards
Follow @JohnWijngaards
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