Sirach 15

1He who fears Yahweh will do this, and he who grasps the law will attain her.

2She will meet him like a mother, and receive him like a wife of his youth.

3He will feed him with the bread of understanding, and give him the water of insight to drink.

4He will lean on her and not be shaken; he will trust in her and not be put to shame.

5And he will exalt him above his companions, and in the midst of the assembly he will open his mouth.

6He will find gladness and joy, and an everlasting name will be his inheritance.

7Men of falsehood will not attain her, and men of insolence will not see her.

8She is far from scoffers, and men of falsehood will not remember her.

9Praise is not fitting in the mouth of a wicked man, for it has not been allotted to him by God.

10Praise is spoken by the mouth of the wise, and one who masters it will teach it.

11Do not say, “My transgression is from God,” for he has not done what he hates.

12Do not say, “He made me stumble,” for he has no need of violent men.

13Yahweh hates evil and abomination, and he will not permit it to those who fear him.

14God, from the beginning, created man, and placed him in the hand of his own violence; he gave him over to the hand of his own inclination.

15If you desire, you will keep the commandment, and to act faithfully is a matter of your good pleasure. If you trust in him, you too will live.

16Fire and water are set before you; whichever you choose, stretch out your hand to it.

17Before human beings are life and death, and whichever he chooses will be given to him.

18For the wisdom of Yahweh is abundant; he is mighty in power and sees all things.

19The eyes of God see his works, and he knows every deed of a man.

20He did not command anyone to be ungodly, and he did not permit anyone to sin.