Sirach Chapter 9 - Catholic Public Domain Version
- 1
- You should not be jealous of the wife of your bosom, lest she reveal, because of you, the malice of a wicked lesson.
- 2
- You should not give authority over your soul to a woman, lest she obtain your strength, and then you would be confounded.
- 3
- You should not look with favor on a woman with many desires, lest perhaps you may fall into her traps.
- 4
- You should not be continually in need of entertainment, nor should you be persuaded by it, lest perhaps you may perish by its effectiveness.
- 5
- You should not stare at a virgin, lest perhaps you may be scandalized by her beauty.
- 6
- You should not give your soul, in any way, to fornicators, lest you destroy yourself and your inheritance.
- 7
- Do not choose to look around in the streets of the city, nor should you wander along its thoroughfares.
- 8
- Avert your face from an ornate woman, for you should not gaze upon strange beauty.
- 9
- Many have perished because of the beauty of a woman; and by this, desire is kindled like a fire.
- 10
- Every woman who is a fornicator will be trampled down, like the filth in the street.
- 11
- Many, by admiring the beauty of the wife of another, have become reprobate. For familiarity with her flares up like a fire.
- 12
- You should not sit down at all with another man's wife, nor recline with her on a couch.
- 13
- And you should not argue with her over wine, lest perhaps your heart may turn toward her, and by your emotion, you would be toppled into perdition.
- 14
- You should not abandon a old friend. For a new one will not be similar to him.
- 15
- A new friend is like new wine. It will grow old, and then you will enjoy drinking it.
- 16
- You should not envy the glory and wealth of a sinner. For you do not know what may be his undoing in the future.
- 17
- The injury of the unjust should not please you, knowing that, until they are in hell, the impious will not please.
- 18
- Keep yourself far from a man having the power to kill, and then you will not have the fear of death suspended over you.
- 19
- But if you do approach him, do nothing to offend, lest perhaps he may take away your life.
- 20
- Know that this is a communion with death. For you would be entering the midst of snares, and walking upon the arms of the grieving.
- 21
- According to your ability, be cautious of your neighbor, and treat him as the wise and prudent would.
- 22
- Let just men be your companions, and let your glory be in the fear of God.
- 23
- And let the thought of God be in your mind, and let all your discourse be on the precepts of the Most High.
- 24
- Works will be praised for the hands of the artists, and a leader of the people will be praised for the wisdom of his words, yet truly, the word of the elders will be praised for its understanding.
- 25
- A man full of words is a dread to his city, but one who speaks rashly will be hated for his word.
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