Sirach 15

¹ He that feareth the Lord will do good, and he that hath the knowledge of the law shall obtain her.

² And as a mother shall she meet him, and receive him as a wife married of a virgin.

³ With the bread of understanding shall she feed him, and give him the water of wisdom to drink.

⁴ He shall be stayed upon her, and shall not be moved; and shall rely upon her, and shall not be confounded.

⁵ She shall exalt him above his neighbours, and in the midst of the congregation shall she open his mouth.

⁶ He shall find joy and a crown of gladness, and she shall cause him to inherit an everlasting name.

⁷ But foolish men shall not attain unto her, and sinners shall not see her.

⁸ For she is far from pride, and men that are liars cannot remember her.

⁹ Praise is not seemly in the mouth of a sinner, for it was not sent him of the Lord.

¹⁰ For praise shall be uttered in wisdom, and the Lord will prosper it.

¹¹ Say not thou, It is through the Lord that I fell away: for thou oughtest not to do the things that he hateth.

¹² Say not thou, He hath caused me to err: for he hath no need of the sinful man.

¹³ The Lord hateth all abomination; and they that fear God love it not.

¹⁴ He himself made man from the beginning, and left him in the hand of his counsel;

¹⁵ If thou wilt, to keep the commandments, and to perform acceptable faithfulness.

¹⁶ He hath set fire and water before thee: stretch forth thy hand unto whether thou wilt.

¹⁷ Before man is life and death; and whether him liketh shall be given him.

¹⁸ For the wisdom of the Lord is great, and he is mighty in power, and beholdeth all things:

¹⁹ And his eyes are upon them that fear him, and he knoweth every work of man.

²⁰ He hath commanded no man to do wickedly, neither hath he given any man licence to sin.