CHAPTER 4
1 Pay no heed, therefore, ⌈my children,⌉ to the beauty of women, nor set your mind on their affairs; but walk in singleness of heart in the fear of the Lord, and expend labour on good works, and on study and on your flocks, until the Lord give you a wife, whom He will, that ye suffer not as I did.
2 For until my father's death I had not boldness to look in his face, or to speak to any of my brethren, because of the reproach.
3 Even until now my conscience causeth me anguish on account of my impiety.
4 And yet my father comforted me much, and prayed for me unto the Lord, that the anger of the Lord might pass from me, even as the Lord showed. And thenceforth until now I have been on my guard and sinned not.
5 Therefore, my children, ⌈I say unto you,⌉ observe ⌈all⌉ things whatsoever I command you, and ye shall not sin.
6 For a pit unto the soul is the sin of fornication, separating it from God, and bringing it near to idols, because it deceiveth the mind and understanding, and leadeth down young men into ᵃHades before their time.
7 For many hath fornication destroyed; because, though a man be old or noble, ⌈or rich or poor,⌉ he bringeth reproach upon himself with the sons of men and derision with Beliar.
8 For hear ye regarding Joseph how he guarded himself from a woman, and purged his thoughts from all fornication, and found favour in the sight of God and men.
9 For the Egyptian ᵃwoman did many things unto him, and summoned magicians, and offered him love potions, but the purpose of his soul admitted no evil desire.
11 For if fornication overcomes not your mind, neither can Beliar overcome you.