Read & explore together
The teacher’s severe warning about a harmful wife
Sirach 25:13–26 is a severe piece of wisdom speech about a harmful wife and bitter household conflict. Its sayings use sharp comparisons and broad claims, so it is important to follow the words carefully and read them as this passage presents them.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
This passage is not a story but a sequence of linked sayings in Sirach. The speaker moves from heart wounds and enemies to images of life at home, then to warnings about beauty, speech and separation. As part of the Catholic additional books, Sirach should be read here as its own wisdom and dialogue material.
Sirach 25:13–26Main takeaway
Sirach 25:13–26 gives forceful and unsettling wisdom sayings that warn about destructive marriage conflict in the passage’s own severe language.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Severe comparisons open the warningThe passage begins by piling up painful comparisons. It speaks of a wound of the heart, calamity from haters, vengeance from enemies, snake venom and enemy wrath.
Explanation
The passage begins by piling up painful comparisons. It speaks of a wound of the heart, calamity from haters, vengeance from enemies, snake venom and enemy wrath. These short sayings intensify the warning step by step, presenting this trouble as deeply painful and hostile.
02The speech turns to life in the houseThe next lines picture the home in distress. The speaker says he would rather live with a lion and a dragon than with a wicked woman.
Explanation
The next lines picture the home in distress. The speaker says he would rather live with a lion and a dragon than with a wicked woman. Her wickedness is said to change her appearance, and her husband is described among neighbours, sighing bitterly when he hears it.
03The sayings become broader and harsherSirach 25:19 makes a sweeping claim, saying all malice is small compared with the malice of a woman, and it adds a wish that a sinner’s portion would fall on her.
Explanation
Sirach 25:19 makes a sweeping claim, saying all malice is small compared with the malice of a woman, and it adds a wish that a sinner’s portion would fall on her. Then Sirach 25:20 compares a wife full of words to walking up a sandy hill in old age, stressing strain and difficulty.
04Warnings, sorrow and closing commandsThe final lines warn against being ensnared by beauty or desiring a woman for beauty. They mention anger, impudence, reproach, sadness and a wounded heart.
Explanation
The final lines warn against being ensnared by beauty or desiring a woman for beauty. They mention anger, impudence, reproach, sadness and a wounded heart. The speech also includes the broad statement about sin and death in Sirach 25:24, then ends with direct commands about speech and separation.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Which comparisons in the opening verses make the warning sound most intense?
List the images in Sirach 25:13–15 and notice how each one adds pain, danger or hostility.
02How does the passage describe the effect of this conflict within the household?
Look for the details about changed appearance, bitter sighing, hard walking and a wounded heart.
03What exact warnings and commands appear at the end of the passage?
Use the wording of the text to identify the warning about beauty and the final instructions about speech and separation.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Sirach 25:13–26
13Any wound but a wound of the heart! Any wickedness but the wickedness of a woman!
14Any calamity but a calamity from those who hate me! Any vengeance but the vengeance of enemies!
15There is no venom worse than a snake’s venom. There is no wrath worse than an enemy’s wrath.
16I would rather dwell with a lion and a dragon than keep house with a wicked woman.
17The wickedness of a woman changes her appearance, and darkens her countenance like that of a bear.
18Her husband will sit among his neighbors, and when he hears it, he sighs bitterly.
19All malice is small compared to the malice of a woman. Let the portion of a sinner fall on her.
20As walking up a sandy hill is to the feet of the aged, so is a wife full of words to a quiet man.
21Don’t be ensnared by a woman’s beauty. Don’t desire a woman for her beauty.
22There is anger, impudence, and great reproach if a woman supports her husband.
23A wicked woman is abasement of heart, sadness of countenance, and a wounded heart. A woman who won’t make her husband happy is like hands that hang down, and weak knees.
24The beginning of sin came from a woman. Because of her, we all die.
25Don’t give water an outlet, and don’t give a wicked woman freedom of speech.
26If she doesn’t go as you direct, cut her away from your flesh.