Sirach 15

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW JERUSALEM
1 He that feareth God, will do good: and he that possesseth justice, shall lay hold on her,	1 Whoever fears the Lord wil act like this, and whoever grasps the Law wil obtain wisdom.
2 And she will meet him as an honourable mother, and will receive him as a wife married of a virgin.	2 She will come to meet him like a mother, and receive him like a virgin bride.
3 With the bread of life and understanding, she shall feed him, and give him the water of wholesome wisdom to drink: and she shall be made strong in him, and he shall not be moved:	3 She will give him the bread of understanding to eat, and the water of wisdom to drink.
4 And she shall hold him fast, and he shall not be confounded: and she shall exalt him among his neighbours.	4 He will lean on her and wil not fal , he wil rely on her and not be put to shame.
5 And in the midst of the church she shall open his mouth, and shall fill him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding, and shall clothe him with a robe of glory.	5 She will raise him high above his neighbours, and in ful assembly she wil open his mouth.
6 She shall heap upon him a treasure of joy and gladness, and shall cause him to inherit an everlasting name.	6 He will find happiness and a crown of joy, he wil inherit an everlasting name.
7 But foolish men shall not obtain her, and wise men shall meet her, foolish men shall not see her: for she is far from pride and deceit.	7 Fools wil not gain possession of her, nor will sinners set eyes on her.
8 Lying men shall not be mindful of her: but men that speak truth shall be found with her, and shall advance, even till they come to the sight of God.	8 She stands remote from pride, and liars cannot cal her to mind.
9 Praise is not seemly in the mouth of a sinner:	9 Praise is unseemly in a sinner's mouth, since it has not been put there by the Lord.
10 For wisdom came forth from God: for praise shall be with the wisdom of God, and shall abound in a faithful mouth, and the sovereign Lord will give praise unto it.	10 For praise should be uttered only in wisdom, and the Lord himself then prompts it.
11 Say not: It is through God, that she is not with me: for do not thou the things that he hateth.	11 Do not say, 'The Lord was responsible for my sinning,' for he does not do what he hates.
12 Say not: He hath caused me to err: for he hath no need of wicked men.	12 Do not say, 'It was he who led me astray,' for he has no use for a sinner.
13 The Lord hateth all abomination of error, and they that fear him shall not love it.	13 The Lord hates al that is foul, and no one who fears him will love it either.
14 God made man from the beginning, and left him in the hand of his own counsel.	14 He himself made human beings in the beginning, and then left them free to make their own decisions.
15 He added his commandments and precepts.	15 If you choose, you will keep the commandments and so be faithful to his wil .
16 If thou wilt keep the commandments and perform acceptable fidelity for ever, they shall preserve thee.	16 He has set fire and water before you; put out your hand to whichever you prefer.
17 He hath set water and fire before thee: stretch forth thy hand to which thou wilt.	17 A human being has life and death before him; whichever he prefers wil be given him.
18 Before man is life and death, good and evil, that which he shall choose shall be given him:	18 For vast is the wisdom of the Lord; he is almighty and al -seeing.
19 For the wisdom of God is great, and he is strong in power, seeing all men without ceasing.	19 His eyes are on those who fear him, he notes every human action.
20 The eyes of the Lord are towards them that fear him, and he knoweth all the work of man.	20 He never commanded anyone to be godless, he has given no one permission to sin.
21 He hath commanded no man to do wickedly, and he hath given no man license to sin:
22 For he desireth not a multitude of faithless and unprofitable children.