Sirach
15:1 He that feareth the Lord will do good, and he that hath the knowledge of
the law shall obtain her.
15:2 And as a mother shall she meet him, and receive him as a wife married of
a virgin.
15:3 With the bread of understanding shall she feed him, and give him the
water of wisdom to drink.
15:4 He shall be stayed upon her, and shall not be moved; and shall rely upon
her, and shall not be confounded.
15:5 She shall exalt him above his neighbours, and in the midst of the
congregation shall she open his mouth.
15:6 He shall find joy and a crown of gladness, and she shall cause him to
inherit an everlasting name.
15:7 But foolish men shall not attain unto her, and sinners shall not see
her.
15:8 For she is far from pride, and men that are liars cannot remember her.
15:9 Praise is not seemly in the mouth of a sinner, for it was not sent him
of the Lord.
15:10 For praise shall be uttered in wisdom, and the Lord will prosper it.
15:11 Say not thou, It is through the Lord that I fell away: for thou oughtest
not to do the things that he hateth.
15:12 Say not thou, He hath caused me to err: for he hath no need of the
sinful man.
15:13 The Lord hateth all abomination; and they that fear God love it not.
15:14 He himself made man from the beginning, and left him in the hand of his
counsel;
15:15 If thou wilt, to keep the commandments, and to perform acceptable
faithfulness.
15:16 He hath set fire and water before thee: stretch forth thy hand unto
whether thou wilt.
15:17 Before man is life and death; and whether him liketh shall be given him.
15:18 For the wisdom of the Lord is great, and he is mighty in power, and
beholdeth all things:
15:19 And his eyes are upon them that fear him, and he knoweth every work of
man.
15:20 He hath commanded no man to do wickedly, neither hath he given any man
licence to sin.
