Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 9
Women
1Don't be jealous of the wife you love. You will only be teaching her how to do you harm. 2Do not surrender your dignity to a woman. 3Keep away from other men's wives or they will trap you. 4Don't keep company with female musicians; they will trick you. 5Don't look too intently at a virgin, or you may find yourself forced to pay a bride price. 6Don't give yourself to prostitutes, or you may lose everything you own. 7So don't go looking about in the streets or wandering round in the run-down parts of town. 8When you see a good-looking woman, look the other way; don't let your mind dwell on the beauty of any woman who is not your wife. Many men have been led astray by a woman's beauty. It kindles passion as if it were fire. 9Don't sit down to eat with another man's wife or join her for a drink. You may give in to the temptation of her charms and be destroyed by your passion.
Friendship
10Never abandon an old friend; you will never find a new one who can take their place. Friendship is like wine; it gets better as it grows older. 11Don't be jealous of a sinner's success; you don't know what kind of disaster is in store for him. 12Don't take pleasure in the things that make ungodly people happy; remember that they will be held guilty as long as they live. 13If you keep away from someone who has the power to put you to death, you will not have to fear for your life; but if you must go near him, be very careful, or he may kill you. Be conscious that you are walking among hidden traps, that you are an easy target.
14Get to know the people round you as well as you can, and take advice only from those who are qualified to give it. 15Engage in conversation with intelligent people, and let the Law of the Most High be the topic of your discussions. 16Choose righteous people for your dinner companions. Your chief pride should be your fear of the Lord.
Rulers
17Skilled workers are admired for the things they make, and leaders' wisdom is proved by their words. 18Someone who speaks rashly and recklessly is feared and hated by everyone in town.
Good News Translation® with Deuterocanonicals/Apocrypha (Today’s English Version, Second Edition) © 1992 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
Anglicisation © The British and Foreign Bible Society 1976, 1994, 2004
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