Ben Sira 9:3-9
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
3 Do not go near a strange woman,
lest you fall into her snares.
4 Do not dally with a singer,
lest you be captivated by her charms.
5 Do not entertain any thoughts about a virgin,
lest you be enmeshed in damages for her.[a]
6 Do not give yourself to a prostitute
lest you lose your inheritance.(A)
7 Do not look around the streets of the city
or wander through its squares.
8 Avert your eyes from a shapely woman;
do not gaze upon beauty that is not yours;
Through woman’s beauty many have been ruined,
for love of it burns like fire.(B)
9 Never recline at table with a married woman,
or drink intoxicants with her,
Lest your heart be drawn to her
and you go down in blood[b] to the grave.
Footnotes
- 9:5 Cf. Ex 22:15–16; Dt 22:28–29; Jb 31:1. Cf. note on Ex 22:16.
- 9:9 In blood: perhaps refers to blood revenge; cf. Lv 20:10.
Sirach 9:3-9
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
3 Do not go near a loose woman,
or you will fall into her snares.
4 Do not dally with a singing girl,
or you will be caught by her tricks.
5 Do not look intently at a virgin,
or you may stumble and incur penalties for her.
6 Do not give yourself to prostitutes,
or you may lose your inheritance.
7 Do not look around in the streets of a city,
or wander about in its deserted sections.
8 Turn away your eyes from a shapely woman,
and do not gaze at beauty belonging to another;
many have been seduced by a woman’s beauty,
and by it passion is kindled like a fire.
9 Never dine with another man’s wife,
or revel with her at wine;
or your heart may turn aside to her,
and in blood[a] you may be plunged into destruction.
Footnotes
- Sirach 9:9 Heb: Gk by your spirit
Sirach 9:3-9
Common English Bible
3 Don’t meet up with a female escort,
since you might fall into her traps.
4 Don’t hang around
with a female musician,
since you might get caught
in her advances.
5 Don’t stare at a young woman,
since you might incur punishment
for her.
6 Don’t give yourself to prostitutes,
since you might lose your inheritance.
7 Don’t look around in the city streets,
and don’t wander in its deserted areas.
8 Turn your eye away from a shapely woman,
and don’t stare at beauty
belonging to someone else.
Many have gone astray
because of a woman’s beauty,
and out of it affection
flames up like a fire.
9 Don’t ever sit[a] with a married woman,
and don’t share meals
or indulge in wine with her,
since your soul might be attracted to her
and you might slip into destruction
because of your passion.[b]
Footnotes
- Sirach 9:9 Or Don’t sit down at a meal.
- Sirach 9:9 Heb in your passion; LXX in your blood
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