stranger do no matter of counsel: for thou knowest not
what he will bring forth.

8:22. Open not thy heart to every man: lest he repay thee with an evil
turn, and speak reproachfully to thee.

Ecclesiasticus Chapter 9

Cautions with regard to women, and dangerous conversations.

9:1. Be not jealous over the wife of thy bosom, lest she shew in thy
regard the malice of a wicked lesson.

9:2. Give not the power of thy soul to a woman, lest she enter upon thy
strength, and thou be confounded.

9:3. Look not upon a woman that hath a mind for many: lest thou fall
into her snares.

9:4. Use not much the company of her that is a dancer, and hearken not
to her, lest thou perish by the force of her charms.

9:5. Gaze not upon a maiden, lest her beauty be a stumblingblock to
thee.

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 lust 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 hell 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