| 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 You should not give authority over your soul to a woman, lest she obtain your strength, and then you would be confounded. |
| 3 You should not look with favor on a woman with many desires, lest perhaps you may fall into her traps. |
| 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 You should not stare at a virgin, lest perhaps you may be scandalized by her beauty. |
| 6 You should not give your soul, in any way, to fornicators, lest you destroy yourself and your inheritance. |
| 7 Do not choose to look around in the streets of the city, nor should you wander along its thoroughfares. |
| 8 Avert your face from an ornate woman, for you should not gaze upon strange beauty. |
| 9 Many have perished because of the beauty of a woman; and by this, desire is kindled like a fire. |
| 10 Every woman who is a fornicator will be trampled down, like the filth in the street. |
| 11 Many, by admiring the beauty of the wife of another, have become reprobate. For familiarity with her flares up like a fire. |
| 12 You should not sit down at all with another man’s wife, nor recline with her on a couch. |
| 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 You should not abandon a old friend. For a new one will not be similar to him. |
| 15 A new friend is like new wine. It will grow old, and then you will enjoy drinking it. |
| 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 The injury of the unjust should not please you, knowing that, until they are in hell, the impious will not please. |
| 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. |