Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 15

¹ Whoever fears the Lord will act like this, and whoever grasps the Law will obtain wisdom.

² She will come to meet him like a mother, and receive him like a virgin bride.

³ She will give him the bread of understanding to eat, and the water of wisdom to drink.

⁴ He will lean on her and will not fall, he will rely on her and not be put to shame.

⁵ She will raise him high above his neighbours, and in full assembly she will open his mouth.

⁶ He will find happiness and a crown of joy, he will inherit an everlasting name.

⁷ Foolish men will not gain possession of her, nor will sinful men set eyes on her.

⁸ She stands remote from pride, and liars cannot call her to mind

⁹ Praise is unseemly in a sinner’s mouth, since it has not been put there by the Lord.

¹⁰ For praise should only be uttered in wisdom, and the Lord himself then prompts it.

¹¹ Do not say, ‘The Lord was responsible for my sinning’, for he is never the cause of what he hates.

¹² Do not say, ‘It was he who led me astray’, for he has no use for a sinner.

¹³ The Lord hates all that is foul, and no one who fears him will love it either.

¹⁴ He himself made man in the beginning, and then left him free to make his own decisions.

¹⁵ If you wish, you can keep the commandments, to behave faithfully is within your power.

¹⁶ He has set fire and water before you; put out your hand to whichever you prefer.

¹⁷ Man has life and death before him; whichever a man likes better will be given him.

¹⁸ For vast is the wisdom of the Lord; he is almighty and all-seeing.

¹⁹ His eyes are on those who fear him, he notes every action of man.

²⁰ He never commanded anyone to be godless, he has given no one permission to sin.