Caution in Relationships
1 Don’t be jealous over the wife you embrace, and don’t teach her an evil lesson against yourself. 2 Don’t give your soul to a woman and let her trample down your strength. 3 Don’t go to meet a woman who plays the prostitute, in case you fall into her traps. 4 Don’t associate with a woman who is a singer, in case you are caught by her tricks. 5 Don’t gaze at a virgin, in case you stumble and are penalized because of her. 6 Don’t give your soul to prostitutes, so that you do not lose your inheritance.
7 Don’t look around in the streets of the city. Don’t wander in its deserted places. 8 Turn your eye away from a beautiful woman, and don’t gaze at another’s beauty. Many have been led astray by the beauty of a woman, and with this, passion is ignited like a fire. 9 Don’t dine at all with a woman who has a husband, or drink wine in celebration with her, in case your soul turns toward her, and you slide in spirit into destruction.
Old Friends and Wise Company
10 Don’t abandon an old friend, for a new one is not comparable to him. A new friend is like new wine. If it ages, you will drink it with gladness. 11 Don’t envy the success of a sinner, for you don’t know what his end will be. 12 Don’t take pleasure in the pleasures of the ungodly. Remember they will not go unpunished before they reach the grave.
13 Stay away from the man who has power to kill, and you will not be troubled by the fear of death. If you come to him, commit no fault, in case he takes away your life. Know for certain that you move among traps and walk on a city’s battlements. 14 As well as you can, aim to know your neighbors, and consult with the wise. 15 Let your conversation be with men of understanding. Let all your discussion concern the law of the Most High. 16 Let righteous people be companions at your table. Let your boasting be in the fear of the Lord.
Skill in Work and Speech
17 A work is praised because of the skill of the artisan, and he who rules the people will be considered wise for his speech. 18 A loudmouthed man is dangerous in his city. He who is reckless in his speech will be hated.
Texts in conversation
Compare Jesus Ben Sira, Sirach 9:8 and Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor 3.11
Deuterocanon · Early Christian
Summary
Passages
Jesus Ben Sira, Sirach 9:8
Deuterocanon · Ben Sira, Ecclesiasticusso that you do not lose your inheritance. 7 Don’t look around in the streets of the city.
Don’t wander in its deserted places. 8 Turn your eye away from a beautiful woman,
and don’t gaze at another’s beauty.
Many have been led astray by the beauty of a woman,
and with this, passion is ignited like a fire. 9 Don’t dine at all with a woman who has a husband,
or drink wine in celebration with her,
in case your soul turns toward her,
and you slide in spirit into destruction. 10 Don’t abandon an old friend,
for a new one is not comparable to him.
A new friend is like new wine.
If it ages, you will drink it with gladness.
Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor 3.11
Early Christian · PaedagogusReferences
References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.
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