ΣΟΦΙΑ ΣΕΙΡΑΧ - Siracide - Sirach 9

LXX	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 μη ζηλου γυναικα του κολπου σου μηδε διδαξης επι σεαυτον παιδειαν πονηραν	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 μη δως γυναικι την ψυχην σου επιβηναι αυτην επι την ισχυν σου	2 You should not give authority over your soul to a woman, lest she obtain your strength, and then you would be confounded.
3 μη υπαντα γυναικι εταιριζομενη μηποτε εμπεσης εις τας παγιδας αυτης	3 You should not look with favor on a woman with many desires, lest perhaps you may fall into her traps.
4 μετα ψαλλουσης μη ενδελεχιζε μηποτε αλως εν τοις επιχειρημασιν αυτης	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 παρθενον μη καταμανθανε μηποτε σκανδαλισθης εν τοις επιτιμιοις αυτης	5 You should not stare at a virgin, lest perhaps you may be scandalized by her beauty.
6 μη δως πορναις την ψυχην σου ινα μη απολεσης την κληρονομιαν σου	6 You should not give your soul, in any way, to fornicators, lest you destroy yourself and your inheritance.
7 μη περιβλεπου εν ρυμαις πολεως και εν ταις ερημοις αυτης μη πλανω	7 Do not choose to look around in the streets of the city, nor should you wander along its thoroughfares.
8 αποστρεψον οφθαλμον απο γυναικος ευμορφου και μη καταμανθανε καλλος αλλοτριον εν καλλει γυναικος πολλοι επλανηθησαν και εκ τουτου φιλια ως πυρ ανακαιεται	8 Avert your face from an ornate woman, for you should not gaze upon strange beauty.
9 μετα υπανδρου γυναικος μη καθου το συνολον και μη συμβολοκοπησης μετ' αυτης εν οινω μηποτε εκκλινη η ψυχη σου επ' αυτην και τω πνευματι σου ολισθης εις απωλειαν	9 Many have perished because of the beauty of a woman; and by this, desire is kindled like a fire.
10 μη εγκαταλιπης φιλον αρχαιον ο γαρ προσφατος ουκ εστιν εφισος αυτω οινος νεος φιλος νεος εαν παλαιωθη μετ' ευφροσυνης πιεσαι αυτον	10 Every woman who is a fornicator will be trampled down, like the filth in the street.
11 μη ζηλωσης δοξαν αμαρτωλου ου γαρ οιδας τι εσται η καταστροφη αυτου	11 Many, by admiring the beauty of the wife of another, have become reprobate. For familiarity with her flares up like a fire.
12 μη ευδοκησης εν ευδοκια ασεβων μνησθητι οτι εως αδου ου μη δικαιωθωσιν	12 You should not sit down at all with another man’s wife, nor recline with her on a couch.
13 μακραν απεχε απο ανθρωπου ος εχει εξουσιαν του φονευειν και ου μη υποπτευσης φοβον θανατου καν προσελθης μη πλημμελησης ινα μη αφεληται την ζωην σου επιγνωθι οτι εν μεσω παγιδων διαβαινεις και επι επαλξεων πολεως περιπατεις	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 κατα την ισχυν σου στοχασαι τους πλησιον και μετα σοφων συμβουλευου	14 You should not abandon a old friend. For a new one will not be similar to him.
15 μετα συνετων εστω ο διαλογισμος σου και πασα διηγησις σου εν νομω υψιστου	15 A new friend is like new wine. It will grow old, and then you will enjoy drinking it.
16 ανδρες δικαιοι εστωσαν συνδειπνοι σου και εν φοβω κυριου εστω το καυχημα σου	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 εν χειρι τεχνιτων εργον επαινεσθησεται και ο ηγουμενος λαου σοφος εν λογω αυτου	17 The injury of the unjust should not please you, knowing that, until they are in hell, the impious will not please.
18 φοβερος εν πολει αυτου ανηρ γλωσσωδης και ο προπετης εν λογω αυτου μισηθησεται	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.