Read & explore together
A good wife brings peace and gladness
Sirach 26:1–4 gives short wisdom sayings about the blessing of a good wife, the joy of faithfulness, and the value of a good heart. These verses speak in compact lines that connect goodness with gladness and peace.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
This passage is from Sirach in the Catholic additional books. In these four verses, the speaker presents wisdom about marriage and inner character. The sayings focus on a husband’s happiness, a faithful wife’s gift-like value, and the cheerful effect of a good heart whether someone is rich or poor.
Sirach 26:1–4Main takeaway
These verses teach that a good and faithful wife is described as a great gift, bringing happiness, joy, and peace, and that a good heart brings cheerfulness whether one is rich or poor.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Happiness in marriageThe first saying declares, “Happy is the husband of a good wife.” It then adds, “The number of his days will be doubled.”
Explanation
The first saying declares, “Happy is the husband of a good wife.” It then adds, “The number of his days will be doubled.” The verse presents a good wife as a cause of great happiness and blessing for her husband. Its emphasis stays on the goodness of the wife and the husband’s resulting happiness.
02Faithfulness gives joy and peaceVerse 2 describes the wife as “faithful”. It says that such a wife “gives joy to her husband”.
Explanation
Verse 2 describes the wife as “faithful”. It says that such a wife “gives joy to her husband”. It also says, “He will fulfill his years in peace.” The wording directly links the wife’s faithfulness with the husband’s joy and peaceful years.
03A good wife is a great giftVerse 3 states plainly, “A good wife is a great gift.” It then says, “She will be given to those who fear the Lord.”
Explanation
Verse 3 states plainly, “A good wife is a great gift.” It then says, “She will be given to those who fear the Lord.” This verse presents a good wife as a valuable gift and connects that gift with people who fear the Lord.
04A good heart makes a cheerful faceThe final verse mentions two different life situations: “Whether a man is rich or poor”. It then gives the main point: “a good heart makes a cheerful face at all times.”
Explanation
The final verse mentions two different life situations: “Whether a man is rich or poor”. It then gives the main point: “a good heart makes a cheerful face at all times.” The saying places its attention on the good heart as the source of cheerfulness, not on wealth or poverty.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What results does the passage connect with a good and faithful wife?
Trace the results named in the verses: “happy”, “joy”, “fulfill his years in peace”, and the statement about days being “doubled”.
02How does verse 3 describe a good wife, and who is said to receive this gift?
Use the exact words of the verse: she is “a great gift” and “will be given to those who fear the Lord”.
03What point does verse 4 make by mentioning both rich and poor?
Notice that the verse includes both conditions before saying that “a good heart makes a cheerful face at all times”.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Sirach 26:1–4
1Happy is the husband of a good wife. The number of his days will be doubled.
2A faithful wife gives joy to her husband. He will fulfill his years in peace.
3A good wife is a great gift. She will be given to those who fear the Lord.
4Whether a man is rich or poor, a good heart makes a cheerful face at all times.