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Chapter 9: At the start Sirach returns to advice on women, a
topic he speaks more on than do the other wisdom books. He
urges one not to let a woman, whether a wife or a prostitute,
to get  a hold on a man - she can dominate him if he lets her
get the upper hand by giving in without restraint to his
passions. If she can keep her cool while he is almost out of
his head with emotion, she can control him.Men can easily be
blinded with emotion.  In v.5 he echoes Job 31.1 ,who made a
policy not even to look at a virgin. So Sirach advises against
even dining with another man's wife.

Some today say the words of Sirach on women are
unfortunate.  But they are inspired, so we must not say that.
Really, we must notice two kinds of statements: one kind
which warns against illicit sex and also warns against an evil
wife; another kind that praises a good wife lavishly.

Both kinds of statements are true. We saw one kind
above. (We can add also 25.13-26). In the other kind (such as
7.19; and 26.1-4,  Sirach praises a good wife, says her charm
is worth more than gold.  We might recall also the ideal
praise of the fine wife in Proverbs 31.10-31.

Actually,Pope Paul VI said well when he wrote to the
National Congress of the Italian Feminine Center; The Pope
Speaks 1,1966,p.10): "Christian marriage and the
Christian family demand a moral commitment.  They are not an
easy way of Christian life...Rather it is a long path toward
sanctification." The reason is that male and female psychology
are so greatly different that once the initial ardor of
feeling cools, soon the partners discover the truth, each one
can honestly say: I need to give in most of the time to make
this work.  But that it the opposite of selfishness, it is
selflessness, a wonderful part of spiritual growth. If they
work as our Father designed marriage, each will be deeply
concerned with the happiness and well-being of the other, and
also of the children. There are many mothers and fathers who
are splendidly selfless and generous to each other and to the
children.  That really is the fruit of a long path towards
sanctification (cf. fill-in in  Wm.Most, Our Father's Plan,
pp.145-50).Even though he did not express this clearly, yet
Sirach must have seen examples of it.