Chapter 26 continues the theme of wives begun in chapter 25, but now with a more balanced treatment. The chapter opens with a beautiful praise of the good wife -- her husband's joy, his length of days, a gift from the Lord. A warning against the wicked wife follows, and the chapter concludes with reflections on the dangers of commerce and the difficulty of avoiding sin in trade.
The praise of the good wife (vv. 1-4, 16-24) is among the most lyrical passages in Sirach. The comparison of a gracious wife to 'the sun rising over the mountains of the Lord' (v. 21) is one of the most exquisite images in wisdom literature. The structural balance with chapter 25's polemic is significant: Ben Sira is not simply a misogynist but operates within an honor-shame framework where both the ideal and the terrible are vividly drawn. The commercial section (vv. 28-29) introduces a new theme that will recur in chapter 27.
The objectifying language remains troubling -- women are evaluated primarily in terms of their effect on their husbands. The 'silent wife' praised in v. 18 reflects cultural values that modern readers will find deeply problematic. The Vulgate text of this chapter has significant additions not found in all Greek manuscripts, making textual criticism complex.
Proverbs 31:10-31 (the capable wife); Proverbs 18:22 (he who finds a wife finds a good thing); Song of Songs (the beloved as beautiful); Amos 8:4-6 (dishonesty in commerce).
Mulieris bonae beatus vir numerus enim annorum illius duplex.
Blessed is the husband of a good wife, for the number of his years will be doubled.
Mulier fortis oblectat virum suum et annos vitae illius in pace implebit.
A strong wife delights her husband and will fill the years of his life with peace.
Echoes the eshet hayil ('woman of strength/valor') of Proverbs 31:10 -- strength here is moral and practical, not merely physical.
Pars bona mulier bona in parte timentium Deum dabitur viro pro factis bonis.
A good wife is a good portion; she will be given to a man who fears God, as a reward for his good deeds.
Divitis autem et pauperis cor bonum in omni tempore vultus eorum hilaris.
Whether rich or poor, a good heart makes a cheerful face at all times.
A tribus timuit cor meum et in quarto faciei meae metui.
Of three things my heart was afraid, and at a fourth I was terrified.
Delaturam civitatis et collectionem populi et calumniam mendacem super mortem omnia gravia.
A slander in the city, the gathering of a mob, and a false accusation -- all these are worse than death.
Dolor cordis et luctus mulier zelotypa.
A grief of heart and a mourning is a jealous woman.
The jealous wife disrupts the household with suspicion -- her emotion becomes the atmosphere of the entire home.
In muliere zelotypa flagellum linguae omnibus communicans.
In a jealous woman there is a scourge of the tongue that communicates with everyone.
Sicut boum iugum quod movetur ita et mulier nequam qui tenet illam quasi qui adprehendit scorpionem.
Like an ox yoke that sways back and forth, so is a wicked woman; whoever holds her is like one who grasps a scorpion.
Mulier ebriosa ira magna et contumelia et turpitudo illius non tegetur.
A drunken woman is a great provocation, and her shame and disgrace will not be concealed.
Fornicatio mulieris in extollentia oculorum et in palpebris illius agnoscetur.
The fornication of a woman is known by the lifting of her eyes and by her eyelids.
In filia non avertente se firma custodiam ne inventa occasione utatur se.
Over a daughter who does not restrain herself, keep strict watch, lest finding an occasion she make use of it.
Ab omni inreverentia oculorum eius cave et ne mireris si te neglexerit.
Beware of all shamelessness in her eyes, and do not be surprised if she disregards you.
Sicut viator sitiens ad fontem os aperiet et ab omni aqua proxima bibet et contra omnem palum sedebit et contra omnem sagittam aperiet faretram donec deficiat.
Like a thirsty traveler, she will open her mouth at a fountain and drink from any water near her; she will sit down at every post and open her quiver to every arrow until she fails.
Gratia mulieris sedulae delectabit virum suum et ossa illius inpinguabit.
The grace of a diligent wife will delight her husband, and her skill will put flesh on his bones.
A Hebrew idiom for health and prosperity -- fat bones indicate a well-nourished, thriving life.
Disciplinata mulier donum Domini et super quod pretium est animae disciplinatae.
A disciplined woman is a gift from the Lord, and beyond all price is a soul with self-control.
Gratia super gratiam mulier sancta et pudorata.
Grace upon grace is a holy and modest woman.
Non est digna ponderatio animae continentis.
There is no weighing worthy of a self-controlled soul.
Sicut sol oriens in mundo in altissimis Dei sic mulieris bonae species in ornamentum domus eius.
Like the sun rising in the heights of God upon the world, so is the beauty of a good wife in the adornment of her house.
Lucerna splendens super candelabrum sanctum et species faciei super aetatem stabilem.
Like a lamp shining upon the holy lampstand, so is the beauty of her face upon her mature figure.
The menorah of the temple -- the good wife's beauty has a sacred quality, illuminating her household as the menorah illuminates the holy place.
Columnae aureae super bases argenteas et pedes firmi super plantas stabilis mulieris.
Like golden pillars on silver bases, so are firm feet upon the heels of a steadfast woman.
Fundamenta aeterna super petram solidam et mandata Dei in corde mulieris sanctae.
Like eternal foundations upon solid rock, so are the commandments of God in the heart of a holy woman.
In duabus contristatum est cor meum et in tertia iracundia mihi advenit.
At two things my heart is grieved, and at a third anger comes upon me.
Vir bellator deficiens per inopiam et vir sensatus contemptus.
A warrior who fails through poverty, and a man of understanding who is treated with contempt.
Et qui transgreditur a iustitia ad peccatum Deus paravit eum ad romphaeam.
And whoever crosses over from justice to sin -- God has prepared him for the sword.
Duae species difficiles et periculosae mihi apparuerunt difficile exuitur negotians a neglegentia et non iustificabitur caupo a peccatis labiorum.
Two kinds of people have seemed to me difficult and dangerous: a merchant is hardly freed from negligence, and a shopkeeper will not be justified from the sins of the lips.
The itinerant trader, whose profession involves constant negotiation and therefore constant exposure to the temptation of dishonest speech.