Do not be jealous of your own wife; do not give her reason to disgrace you.
Do not put yourself into the power of any woman to the point where she can dominate you.
Do not go near a woman of ill-repute for fear of falling into her nets.
Do not dally with a singing girl for fear of being caught in her snare.
Do not fix your gaze on a young girl for fear of being involved in her condemnation.
Do not deliver yourself into the power of prostitutes lest you lose your inheritance.
Do not glance about you in the streets of the town; do not loiter in lonely places.
Turn your eyes away from a goodlooking woman and do not stare at a beautiful foreigner. For the beauty of a woman has caused many to fall; in her presence love blazes up like a fire.
Never sit near a married woman or drink wine with her, for fear that your feelings towards her be roused and that in your passion you slide towards your downfall.
Sirach 9:1-9
Annotation from the Bible (CCB-CPE):
“Ben Sira lives in a society which holds women in contempt. It is a society which has not discovered the rich quality of married love, so there are great temptations for young and adult men who will be more easily satisfied with occasional love. Thus Ben Sira has many warnings against women’s seduction, but always as if they were the first culpable.”
Reflection:
To add, in this chapter and verses, it is telling us to not to be tempted. Keep ourselves away from temptations and seductions. Some women may have il-repute but we should not generalize. Let us also try to understand their situation but keep away from temptations. It could also be vice-versa. Both men and women should be wary of everything not to offend God.
If you are in your right mind and believe in the purity of love, you should not do wicked things especially that it will offend God.
It is not only about other’s actions but your action too. How are you going to resist the temptations and seductions? You should be strong for the love of God and for respect, respect to oneself. Be responsible enough to stand up on what is right and wrong and do not be deluded with the idea that it is not your fault because you were just tempted.