“I take pleasure in three things.

They are beautiful

In the sight of God,

And in the sight of mortals.

They are

Agreement between brothers,

Friendship between neighbors,

And a wife and a husband

Who live in harmony.

I hate three kinds of people.

I loathe their manner of life.

They are

A poor man who boasts,

A rich person who lies,

And an old fool

Who commits adultery.”

Sirach has another one of these numerical proverbs, like in Proverbs. He took pleasure in 3 things and he hated 3 kinds of people. The 3 pleasurable things that were beautiful in the sight of God and man were the harmonious relationships among brothers, neighbors, and spouses. The 3 kinds of people whose life style he hated were poor boastful people, rich liars, and old adulterous fools.