Sirach
1Be not jealous over the wife of your bosom, And teach her not an evil lesson against yourself.
2Give not your soul to a woman, That she should set her foot upon your strength.
3Go not to meet a woman that playeth the harlot, Lest haply you fall into her snares.
4Use not the company of a woman that is a singer, Lest haply you be caught by her attempts.
5Gaze not on a maid, lest haply you be trapped in her penalties.
6Give not your soul to harlots, That you lose not your inheritance.
7Look not round about you in the streets of the city, Neither wander you in the solitary places thereof.
8Turn away your eye from a comely woman, And gaze not on another’s beauty: By the beauty of a woman many have been led astray; And herewith love is kindled as a fire.
9Sit not at all with a woman that has a husband; And revel not with her at the wine; Lest haply your soul turn aside to her, And with your spirit you slide into destruction.
10Forsake not an old friend; For the new is not comparable to him: As new wine, so is a new friend; If it become old, you shall drink it with gladness.
11Envy not the glory of a sinner; For you know not what shall be his overthrow.
12Delight not in the delights of the ungodly: Remember they shall not go unpunished to the grave.
13Keep you far from the man that has power to kill, And you shall have no suspicion of the fear of death: And if you come to him, commit no fault, Lest he take away your life: Know surely that you go about in the midst of snares, And walk upon the battlements of a city.
14As well as you can, guess at your neighbors; And take counsel with the wise.
15Let your converse be with men of understanding; And let all your discourse be in the law of the Most High.
16Let just men be the companions of your board; And let your glorying be in the fear of the Lord.
17For the hand of the artificers a work shall be commended: And he that rules the people shall be counted wise for his speech.
18A man full of tongue is dangerous in his city; And he that is headlong in his speech shall be hated.
