Ben Sira 9:1-8

1 Don't be jealous of the wife you love. You will only be teaching her how to do you harm. 1
2 Do not surrender your dignity to any woman.
3 Keep away from other men's wives or they will trap you.
4 Don't keep company with female musicians; they will trick you.
5 Don't look too intently at a virgin, or you may find yourself forced to pay a bride price.
6 Don't give yourself to prostitutes, or you may lose everything you own.
7 So don't go looking about in the streets or wandering around in the run-down parts of town.
8 When you see a good-looking woman, look the other way; don't let your mind dwell on the beauty of any woman who is not your wife. Many men have been led astray by a woman's beauty. It kindles passion as if it were fire.

Cross References 1

  • 1. 9.1Numbers 5.12-15.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. [Hebrew] other men's wives; [Greek] immoral women.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.