| 15 | Ecclesiasticus | ||
| 1 | The man who fears the Lord will do this, and he who holds to the law will obtain wisdom. | ||
| 2 | She will come to meet him like a mother, and like the wife of his youth she will welcome him. | ||
| 3 | She will feed him with the bread of understanding, and give him the water of wisdom to drink. | ||
| 4 | He will lean on her and will not fall, and he will rely on her and will not be put to shame. | ||
| 5 | She will exalt him above his neighbours, and will open his mouth in the midst of the assembly. | ||
| 6 | He will find gladness and a crown of rejoicing, and will acquire an everlasting name. | ||
| 7 | Foolish men will not obtain her, and sinful men will not see her. | ||
| 8 | She is far from men of pride, and liars will never think of her. | ||
| 9 | A hymn of praise is not fitting on the lips of a sinner, for it has not been sent from the Lord. | ||
| 10 | For a hymn of praise should be uttered in wisdom, and the Lord will prosper it. | ||
| 11 | Do not say, "Because of the Lord I left the right way"; for he will not do what he hates. | Free will. Sir.15.11-20 | |
| 12 | Do not say, "It was he who led me astray"; for he had no need of a sinful man. | ||
| 13 | The Lord hates all abominations, and they are not loved by those who fear him. | ||
| 14 | It was he who created man in the beginning, and he left him in the power of his own inclination. | ||
| 15 | If you will, you can keep the commandments, and to act faithfully is a matter of your own choice. | ||
| 16 | He has placed before you fire and water: stretch out your hand for whichever you wish. | ||
| 17 | Before a man are life and death, and whichever he chooses will be given to him. | ||
| 18 | For great is the wisdom of the Lord; he is mighty in power and sees everything; | ||
| 19 | his eyes are on those who fear him, and he knows every deed of man. | ||
| 20 | He has not commanded any one to be ungodly, and he has not given any one permission to sin. | ||
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