Sirach 26:1-16: a reflection

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. 5Of three things my heart was afraid, and concerning the fourth kind I made supplication: The slander of a city, the assembly of a mob, and a false accusation. All these are more grievous than death. 6A grief of heart and sorrow is a woman who is jealous of another woman. Her tongue-lashing makes it known to all. 7A wicked woman is like a chafing yoke. He who takes hold of her is like one who grasps a scorpion. 8A drunken woman causes great wrath. She will not cover her own shame. 9The fornication of a woman is in the lifting up of her eyes; it will be known by her eyelids. 10Keep strict watch on a headstrong daughter, lest she find liberty for herself, and use it. 11Watch out for an impudent eye, and don’t be surprised if it sins against you. 12She will open her mouth like a thirsty traveller, and drink from every water that is near. She will sit down at every post, and open her quiver to any arrow. 13The grace of a wife will delight her husband. Her knowledge will strengthen his bones. 14A silent woman is a gift of the Lord. There is nothing worth so much as a well-instructed soul. 15A modest woman is grace upon grace. There are no scales that can weigh the value of a self-controlled soul. 16As the sun when it arises in the highest places of the Lord, so is the beauty of a good wife in her well-organized home.

Amid this passage's reflections runs a simple observation about the heart and its outward showing: Whether a man is rich or poor, a good heart makes a cheerful face at all times. The state of the outward face, the passage suggests, flows from the state of the inner heart; a good heart shows itself in a cheerful countenance, and this regardless of outward circumstance, whether one is rich or poor. It is not wealth or poverty that determines the cheerful face, but the good heart within.

Notice the connection drawn: a good heart makes a cheerful face, whatever one's circumstances. The cheerful countenance does not depend on being rich, on having plenty; a good heart makes a cheerful face whether one is rich or poor. The inner state, the goodness and contentment of the heart, shows itself outwardly, in a cheerful face, regardless of one's outward lot. It is the heart, not the circumstances, that determines the countenance; a good heart brings a cheerful face even in poverty, while its absence can leave a cheerless face even in wealth.

That connection is worth taking to heart, for we can suppose our cheerfulness depends on our circumstances, on having enough or more. We can think that a cheerful face requires good circumstances, wealth, ease, plenty; but the passage says a good heart makes a cheerful face at all times, whether rich or poor. The cheerful countenance flows from the inner state of the heart, not from outward abundance. Do not suppose your cheerfulness must wait on better circumstances, more wealth or ease; a good heart makes a cheerful face whatever the circumstances, rich or poor. Cultivate the good and contented heart from which a cheerful face flows, rather than making your cheerfulness depend on your outward lot; for a good heart makes a cheerful face at all times, in poverty as in plenty, and it is the heart within, not the circumstances without, that determines the countenance.

Lord, amid this passage's reflections runs a simple observation about the heart and its outward showing: whether a man is rich or poor, a good heart makes a cheerful face at all times. The state of the outward face flows from the state of the inner heart; a good heart shows itself in a cheerful countenance, regardless of outward circumstance. It is not wealth or poverty that determines the cheerful face, but the good heart within. Show me the connection drawn: a good heart makes a cheerful face, whatever one's circumstances. The cheerful countenance does not depend on being rich; a good heart makes a cheerful face whether one is rich or poor. The inner state, the goodness and contentment of the heart, shows itself outwardly, regardless of one's outward lot. It is the heart, not the circumstances, that determines the countenance. Take that to my heart, for I can suppose my cheerfulness depends on my circumstances, on having enough or more. I can think that a cheerful face requires good circumstances, wealth, ease; but the passage says a good heart makes a cheerful face at all times. The cheerful countenance flows from the inner state of the heart, not from outward abundance. Keep me from supposing my cheerfulness must wait on better circumstances; a good heart makes a cheerful face whatever the circumstances. Help me cultivate the good and contented heart from which a cheerful face flows, Lord, rather than making my cheerfulness depend on my outward lot.