Sirach 9

DOUAI-RHEIMS	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Be not jealous over the wife of thy bosom, lest she shew in thy regard the malice of a wicked lesson.	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 not the power of thy soul to a woman, lest she enter upon thy strength, and thou be confounded.	2 You should not give authority over your soul to a woman, lest she obtain your strength, and then you would be confounded.
3 Look not upon a woman that hath a mind for many: lest thou 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 Use not much the company of her that is a dancer, and hearken not to her, lest thou perish by the force of her charms.	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 Gaze not upon a maiden, lest her beauty be a stumblingblock to thee.	5 You should not stare at a virgin, lest perhaps you may be scandalized by her beauty.
6 Give not thy soul to harlots in any point: lest thou destroy thyself and thy inheritance.	6 You should not give your soul, in any way, to fornicators, lest you destroy yourself and your inheritance.
7 Look not round about thee in the of the city, nor wander up and down in the streets thereof.	7 Do not choose to look around in the streets of the city, nor should you wander along its thoroughfares.
8 Turn away thy face from a woman dressed up, and gaze not about upon another's beauty.	8 Avert your face from an ornate woman, for you should not gaze upon strange beauty.
9 For many have perished by the beauty of a woman, and hereby lust is enkindled as a fire.	9 Many have perished because of the beauty of a woman; and by this, desire is kindled like a fire.
10 Every woman that is a harlot, shall be trodden upon as dung in the way.	10 Every woman who is a fornicator will be trampled down, like the filth in the street.
11 Many by admiring the beauty of another man's wife, have become reprobate, for her conversation burneth as fire.	11 Many, by admiring the beauty of the wife of another, have become reprobate. For familiarity with her flares up like a fire.
12 Sit not at all with another man's wife, nor repose upon the bed with her:	12 You should not sit down at all with another man’s wife, nor recline with her on a couch.
13 And strive not with her over wine, lest thy heart decline towards her, and by thy blood thou fall into destruction.	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 Forsake not an old friend, for the new will not be like to him.	14 You should not abandon a old friend. For a new one will not be similar to him.
15 A new friend is as new wine: it shall grow old, and thou shalt drink it with pleasure.	15 A new friend is like new wine. It will grow old, and then you will enjoy drinking it.
16 Envy not the glory and riches of a sinner: for thou knowest not what his ruin shall be.	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 Be not pleased with the wrong done by the unjust, knowing that even to hell the wicked shall not please.	17 The injury of the unjust should not please you, knowing that, until they are in hell, the impious will not please.
18 Keep thee far from the man that hath power to kill, so thou shalt not suspect the fear of death.	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 And if thou come to him, commit no fault, lest he take away thy life.	19 But if you do approach him, do nothing to offend, lest perhaps he may take away your life.
20 Know it to be a communication with death: for thou art going in the midst of snares, and walking upon the arms of them that are grieved:	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 thy power beware of thy neighbor, and treat with the wise and prudent.	21 According to your ability, be cautious of your neighbor, and treat him as the wise and prudent would.
22 Let just men be thy guests, and let thy glory be in the fear of God.	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 thy mind, and all thy discourse on the commandments of the Highest.	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 shall be praised for the hand of the artificers, and the prince of the people for the wisdom of his speech, but word of the ancients for the sense.	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 tongue is terrible in his city, and he that is rash in his word shall be hateful.	25 A man full of words is a dread to his city, but one who speaks rashly will be hated for his word.