Sirach 9

1Be not jealous over the wife of thy bosom, and teach her not an evil lesson against thyself.Log in to add notes

2Give not thy soul unto a woman to set her foot upon thy substance.Log in to add notes

3Meet not with an harlot, lest thou fall into her snares.Log in to add notes

4Use not much the company of a woman that is a singer, lest thou be taken with her attempts.Log in to add notes

5Gaze not on a maid, that thou fall not by those things that are precious in her.Log in to add notes

6Give not thy soul unto harlots, that thou lose not thine inheritance.Log in to add notes

7Look not round about thee in the streets of the city, neither wander thou in the solitary place thereof.Log in to add notes

8Turn away thine eye from a beautiful woman, and look not upon another’s beauty; for many have been deceived by the beauty of a woman; for herewith love is kindled as a fire.Log in to add notes

9Sit not at all with another man’s wife, nor sit down with her in thine arms, and spend not thy money with her at the wine; lest thine heart incline unto her, and so through thy desire thou fall into destruction.Log in to add notes

10Forsake not an old friend; for the new is not comparable to him: a new friend is as new wine; when it is old, thou shalt drink it with pleasure.Log in to add notes

11Envy not the glory of a sinner: for thou knowest not what shall be his end.Log in to add notes

12Delight not in the thing that the ungodly have pleasure in; but remember they shall not go unpunished unto their grave.Log in to add notes

13Keep thee far from the man that hath power to kill; so shalt thou not doubt the fear of death: and if thou come unto him, make no fault, lest he take away thy life presently: remember that thou goest in the midst of snares, and that thou walkest upon the battlements of the city.Log in to add notes

14As near as thou canst, guess at thy neighbour, and consult with the wise.Log in to add notes

15Let thy talk be with the wise, and all thy communication in the law of the most High.Log in to add notes

16And let just men eat and drink with thee; and let thy glorying be in the fear of the Lord.Log in to add notes

17For the hand of the artificer the work shall be commended: and the wise ruler of the people for his speech.Log in to add notes

18A man of an ill tongue is dangerous in his city; and he that is rash in his talk shall be hated.Log in to add notes