Sirach 15

NEW JERUSALEM	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 Whoever fears the Lord wil act like this, and whoever grasps the Law wil obtain wisdom.	1 He that feareth the Lord will do good, and he that hath the knowledge of the law shall obtain her.
2 She will come to meet him like a mother, and receive him like a virgin bride.	2 And as a mother shall she meet him, and receive him as a wife married of a virgin.
3 She will give him the bread of understanding to eat, and the water of wisdom to drink.	3 With the bread of understanding shall she feed him, and give him the water of wisdom to drink.
4 He will lean on her and wil not fal , he wil rely on her and not be put to shame.	4 He shall be stayed upon her, and shall not be moved; and shall rely upon her, and shall not be confounded.
5 She will raise him high above his neighbours, and in ful assembly she wil open his mouth.	5 She shall exalt him above his neighbours, and in the midst of the congregation shall she open his mouth.
6 He will find happiness and a crown of joy, he wil inherit an everlasting name.	6 He shall find joy and a crown of gladness, and she shall cause him to inherit an everlasting name.
7 Fools wil not gain possession of her, nor will sinners set eyes on her.	7 But foolish men shall not attain unto her, and sinners shall not see her.
8 She stands remote from pride, and liars cannot cal her to mind.	8 For she is far from pride, and men that are liars cannot remember her.
9 Praise is unseemly in a sinner's mouth, since it has not been put there by the Lord.	9 Praise is not seemly in the mouth of a sinner, for it was not sent him of the Lord.
10 For praise should be uttered only in wisdom, and the Lord himself then prompts it.	10 For praise shall be uttered in wisdom, and the Lord will prosper it.
11 Do not say, 'The Lord was responsible for my sinning,' for he does not do what he hates.	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 Do not say, 'It was he who led me astray,' for he has no use for a sinner.	12 Say not thou, He hath caused me to err: for he hath no need of the sinful man.
13 The Lord hates al that is foul, and no one who fears him will love it either.	13 The Lord hateth all abomination; and they that fear God love it not.
14 He himself made human beings in the beginning, and then left them free to make their own decisions.	14 He himself made man from the beginning, and left him in the hand of his counsel;
15 If you choose, you will keep the commandments and so be faithful to his wil .	15 If thou wilt, to keep the commandments, and to perform acceptable faithfulness.
16 He has set fire and water before you; put out your hand to whichever you prefer.	16 He hath set fire and water before thee: stretch forth thy hand unto whether thou wilt.
17 A human being has life and death before him; whichever he prefers wil be given him.	17 Before man is life and death; and whether him liketh shall be given him.
18 For vast is the wisdom of the Lord; he is almighty and al -seeing.	18 For the wisdom of the Lord is great, and he is mighty in power, and beholdeth all things:
19 His eyes are on those who fear him, he notes every human action.	19 And his eyes are upon them that fear him, and he knoweth every work of man.
20 He never commanded anyone to be godless, he has given no one permission to sin.	20 He hath commanded no man to do wickedly, neither hath he given any man licence to sin.