Chapters
Ecclesiasticus (51 chapters)
Ecclesiasticus 9
1
Be not jealous over the wife of thy bosom, And teach her not an evil lesson against thyself.
2
Give not thy soul unto a woman, That she should set her foot upon thy strength.
3
Go not to meet a woman that playeth the harlot, Lest haply thou fall into her snares.
4
Use not the company of a woman that is a singer, Lest haply thou be caught by her attempts.
5
Gaze not on a maid, lest haply thou be trapped in her penalties.
6
Give not thy soul unto harlots, That thou lose not thine inheritance.
7
Look not round about thee in the streets of the city, Neither wander thou in the solitary places thereof.
8
Turn away thine eye from a comely woman, And gaze not on another’s beauty: By the beauty of a woman many have been led astray; And herewith love is kindled as a fire.
9
Sit not at all with a woman that hath a husband; And revel not with her at the wine; Lest haply thy soul turn aside unto her, And with thy spirit thou slide into destruction.
1
Notes
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A line of this verse is here omitted by the best authorities.
10
Forsake not an old friend; For the new is not comparable to him: As new wine, so is a new friend; If it become old, thou shalt drink it with gladness.
11
Envy not the glory of a sinner; For thou knowest not what shall be his overthrow.
12
Delight not in the delights of the ungodly: Remember they shall not go unpunished unto the grave.
1
Notes
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Gr. Hades.
13
Keep thee far from the man that hath power to kill, And thou shalt have no suspicion of the fear of death: And if thou come unto him, commit no fault, Lest he take away thy life: Know surely that thou goest about in the midst of snares, And walkest upon the battlements of a city.
1
Notes
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Or, authority
14
As well as thou canst, guess at thy neighbours; And take counsel with the wise.
15
Let thy converse be with men of understanding; And let all thy discourse be in the law of the Most High.
16
Let just men be the companions of thy board; And let thy glorying be in the fear of the Lord.
17
For the hand of the artificers a work shall be commended: And he that ruleth the people shall be counted wise for his speech.
18
A man full of tongue is dangerous in his city; And he that is headlong in his speech shall be hated.