Part 438 (1/2)

9:6. Give not thy soul to harlots in any point: lest thou destroy thyself and thy inheritance.

9:7. Look not round about thee in the ways of the city, nor wander up and down in the streets thereof.

9:8. Turn away thy face from a woman dressed up, and gaze not about upon another's beauty.

9:9. For many have perished by the beauty of a woman, and hereby l.u.s.t is enkindled as a fire.

9:10. Every woman that is a harlot, shall be trodden upon as dung in the way.

9:11. Many by admiring the beauty of another man's wife, have become reprobate, for her conversation burneth as fire.

9:12. Sit not at all with another man's wife, nor repose upon the bed with her:

9:13. And strive not with her over wine, lest thy heart decline towards her and by thy blood thou fall into destruction.

9:14. Forsake not an old friend, for the new will not be like to him.

9:15. A new friend is as new wine: it shall grow old, and thou shalt drink it with pleasure.

9:16. Envy not the glory and riches of a sinner: for thou knowest not what his ruin shall be.

9:17. Be not pleased with the wrong done by the unjust, knowing that even to h.e.l.l the wicked shall not please.

9:18. Keep thee far from the man that hath power to kill, so thou shalt not suspect the fear of death.

9:19. And if thou come to him, commit no fault, lest he take away thy life.

9:20. Know it to be a communication with death: for thou art going in the midst of snares, and walking upon the arms of them that are grieved.

9:21. According to thy power beware of thy neighbour, and treat with the wise and prudent.

9:22. Let just men be thy guests, and let thy glory be in the fear of G.o.d.

9:23. And let the thought of G.o.d be in thy mind, and all thy discourse on the commandments of the Highest.

9:24. Works shall be praised for the hand of the artificers, and the prince of the people for the wisdom of his speech, but the word of the ancients for the sense.

9:25. A man full of tongue is terrible in his city, and he that is rash in his word shall be hateful.

Ecclesiasticus Chapter 10

The virtues and vices of men in power: the great evil of pride.

10:1. A wise judge shall judge his people, and the government of a prudent man shall be steady.

Judge his people... In the Greek it is, instruct his people.

10:2. As the judge of the people is himself, so also are his ministers: and what manner of man the ruler of a city is, such also are they that dwell therein.

10:3. An unwise king shall be the ruin of his people: and cities shall be inhabited through the prudence of the rulers.