Sirach 9

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Be not jealous of the wife of your bosom, lest you teach her to do evil against you.	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 Give no woman power over you to trample upon your dignity.	2 You should not give authority over your soul to a woman, lest she obtain your strength, and then you would be confounded.
3 Be not intimate with a strange woman, lest you fall into her snares.	3 You should not look with favor on a woman with many desires, lest perhaps you may fall into her traps.
4 With a singing girl be not familiar, lest you be caught in her wiles.	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 Entertain no thoughts against a virgin, lest you be enmeshed in damages for her.	5 You should not stare at a virgin, lest perhaps you may be scandalized by her beauty.
6 Give not yourself to harlots, lest you surrender your inheritance.	6 You should not give your soul, in any way, to fornicators, lest you destroy yourself and your inheritance.
7 Gaze not about the lanes of the city and wander not through its squares;	7 Do not choose to look around in the streets of the city, nor should you wander along its thoroughfares.
8 Avert your eyes from a comely woman; gaze not upon the beauty of another's wife-- Through woman's beauty many perish, for lust for it burns like fire.	8 Avert your face from an ornate woman, for you should not gaze upon strange beauty.
9 With a married woman dine not, recline not at table to drink by her side, Lest your heart be drawn to her and you go down in blood to the grave.	9 Many have perished because of the beauty of a woman; and by this, desire is kindled like a fire.
10 Discard not an old friend, for the new one cannot equal him. A new friend is like new wine which you drink with pleasure only when it has aged.	10 Every woman who is a fornicator will be trampled down, like the filth in the street.
11 Envy not a sinner's fame, for you know not what disaster awaits him.	11 Many, by admiring the beauty of the wife of another, have become reprobate. For familiarity with her flares up like a fire.
12 Rejoice not at a proud man's success; remember he will not reach death unpunished.	12 You should not sit down at all with another man’s wife, nor recline with her on a couch.
13 Keep far from the man who has power to kill, and you will not be filled with the dread of death. But if you approach him, offend him not, lest he take away your life; Know that you are stepping among snares and walking over a net.	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 As best you can, take your neighbors' measure, and associate with the wise.	14 You should not abandon a old friend. For a new one will not be similar to him.
15 With the learned be intimate; let all your conversation be about the law of the LORD.	15 A new friend is like new wine. It will grow old, and then you will enjoy drinking it.
16 Have just men for your table companions; in the fear of God be your glory.	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 Skilled artisans are esteemed for their deftness; but the ruler of his people is the skilled sage.	17 The injury of the unjust should not please you, knowing that, until they are in hell, the impious will not please.
18 Feared in the city is the man of railing speech, and he who talks rashly is hated.	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.