Happy is the husband of a good wife: for the number of his years is double.
2 A virtuous woman rejoiceth her husband: and shall fulfill the years of his life in peace.
3 A good wife is a good portion, she shall be given in the portion of them that fear God, to a man for his good deeds.
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4 Rich or poor, if his heart is good, his countenance shall be cheerful at all times.
5 Of three things my heart hath been afraid, and at the fourth my face hath trembled:
6 The accusation of a city, and the gathering together of the people:
7 And a false calumny, all are more grievous than death.
8 A jealous woman is the grief and mourning of the heart.
9 With a jealous woman is a scourge of the tongue which communicateth with all.
10 As a yoke of oxen that is moved to and fro, so also is a wicked woman: he that hath hold of her, is as he that taketh hold of a scorpion.
11 A drunken woman is a great wrath: and her reproach and shame shall not be hid.
12 The fornication of a woman shall be known by the haughtiness of her eyes, and by her eyelids.
13 On a daughter that turneth not away herself, set a strict watch: lest finding an opportunity she abuse herself.
14 Take heed of the impudence of her eyes, and wonder not if she slight thee.
15 She will open her mouth as a thirsty traveller to the fountain, and will drink of every water near her, and will sit down by every hedge, and open her quiver against every arrow, until she fail.
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16 The grace of a diligent woman shall delight her husband, and shall fat his bones.
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17 Her discipline is the gift of God.
18 Such is a wise and silent woman, and there is nothing so much worth as a well instructed soul.
19 A holy and shamefaced woman is grace upon grace.
20 And no price is worthy of a continent soul.
21 As the sun when it riseth to the world in the high places of God, so is the beauty of a good wife for the ornament of her house.
22 As the lamp shining upon the holy candlestick, so is the beauty of the face in a ripe age.
23 As golden pillars upon bases of silver, so are the firm feet upon the soles of a steady woman.
24 As everlasting foundations upon a solid rock, so the commandments of God In the heart of a holy woman.
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25 At two things my heart is grieved, and the third bringeth anger upon me:
26 A man of was fainting through poverty: and a man of sense despised:
27 And he that passeth over from justice to sin, God hath prepared such an one for the sword.
28 Two sorts of callings have appeared to me hard and dangerous: a merchant is hardly free from negligence: and a huckster shall not be justified from the sins of the lips.
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Eusebius of Caesarea
“"Your wife like a fruitful vine." This is given to him who, though still imperfect, fears the Lord, but it does not hold for one who loves him with all his soul, all his heart and all his strength. For him, there are "those things that eye has not seen," etc. To one who fears the Lord is given a consort of whom it is said, "A good wife is good fate" and "A strong woman, who can find her?" She is more precious than the most costly stones. An evil consort is wrath that comes from God.”
Bonaventure
“The blessed Virgin brought forth that price as strong and holy with the holiness of uncorrupted modesty. Whence in Ecclesiasticus: "Grace upon grace is a holy and modest woman"; and the Angel said: "Hail, full of grace," because she was holy and modest: holy in flesh and modest in mind.”
Bonaventure
“The third allegory, pointing to the Church, is indicated in Ecclesiasticus: "Like the sun rising in the Lord's heavens, the beauty of a virtuous wife is the radiance of her home." This wife or house is the Church: a wife, in that it is active; a house of God, in that it is contemplative. This woman is Martha who received Christ and was concerned with many things.”
Bonaventure
“The blessed Virgin brought forth that price as strong and holy with the holiness of prompt obedience. Whence in Ecclesiasticus: "Everlasting foundations upon a solid rock, and the commandments of God in the heart of a holy woman." The Church had to be founded: therefore it was necessary to lay the foundations, namely the commandments of God, and it was necessary that they be placed in some person. This could not be except in the glorious Virgin. He says: "The commandments of God in the heart of a holy woman," that is, of the glorious Virgin. She was not idle, she was not one who knew and did not act, but she was obedient. Therefore in her heart these commandments of God were founded.”
John Chrysostom
“For who would choose to fatigue himself if was not to gain any good from his labor? So then he also who sows words, and tears, and confession, unless he does this with a good hope, will not be able to desist from sinning, being still held down by the evil of despair. But just as that farmer who despairs of any crop of fruit will not in the future hinder any of those things that damage the seeds, so also he who sows his confession with tears but does not expect any advantage for this will not be able to overthrow those things that spoil repentance. And what does spoil repentance is being again entangled in the same evils. "For there is one," we read, "who builds, and one who pulls down; what have they gained more than toil? He who is dipped in water because of contact with a dead body and then touches it again, what has he gained by his washing?" Even so if someone fasts because of his sins and goes his way again and does the same things, who will listen to his prayer? And again we read, "If someone goes back from righteousness to sin, the Lord will prepare him for the sword," and, "As a dog when he has returned to his vomit and become repugnant, so is a fool who by his wickedness has returned to his sin."”