Sirach 15

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Whoever fears the Lord wil act like this, and whoever grasps the Law wil obtain wisdom.	1 He who fears the LORD will do this; he who is practiced in the law will come to wisdom.
2 She will come to meet him like a mother, and receive him like a virgin bride.	2 Motherlike she will meet him, like a young bride she will embrace him,
3 She will give him the bread of understanding to eat, and the water of wisdom to drink.	3 Nourish him with the bread of understanding, and give him the water of learning 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 will lean upon her and not fall, he will trust in her and not be put to shame.
5 She will raise him high above his neighbours, and in ful assembly she wil open his mouth.	5 She will exalt him above his fellows; in the assembly she will make him eloquent.
6 He will find happiness and a crown of joy, he wil inherit an everlasting name.	6 Joy and gladness he will find, an everlasting name inherit.
7 Fools wil not gain possession of her, nor will sinners set eyes on her.	7 Worthless men will not attain to her, haughty men will not behold her.
8 She stands remote from pride, and liars cannot cal her to mind.	8 Far from the impious is she, not to be spoken of by liars.
9 Praise is unseemly in a sinner's mouth, since it has not been put there by the Lord.	9 Unseemly is praise on a sinner's lips, for it is not accorded to him by God.
10 For praise should be uttered only in wisdom, and the Lord himself then prompts it.	10 But praise is offered by the wise man's tongue; its rightful steward will proclaim it.
11 Do not say, 'The Lord was responsible for my sinning,' for he does not do what he hates.	11 Say not: "It was God's doing that I fell away"; for what he hates he does not do.
12 Do not say, 'It was he who led me astray,' for he has no use for a sinner.	12 Say not: "It was he who set me astray"; for he has no need of wicked man.
13 The Lord hates al that is foul, and no one who fears him will love it either.	13 Abominable wickedness the LORD hates, he does not let it befall those who fear him.
14 He himself made human beings in the beginning, and then left them free to make their own decisions.	14 When God, in the beginning, created man, he made him subject to his own free choice.
15 If you choose, you will keep the commandments and so be faithful to his wil .	15 If you choose you can keep the commandments; it is loyalty to do his will.
16 He has set fire and water before you; put out your hand to whichever you prefer.	16 There are set before you fire and water; to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand.
17 A human being has life and death before him; whichever he prefers wil be given him.	17 Before man are life and death, whichever he chooses shall be given him.
18 For vast is the wisdom of the Lord; he is almighty and al -seeing.	18 Immense is the wisdom of the LORD; he is mighty in power, and all-seeing.
19 His eyes are on those who fear him, he notes every human action.	19 The eyes of God see all he has made; he understands man's every deed.
20 He never commanded anyone to be godless, he has given no one permission to sin.	20 No man does he command to sin, to none does he give strength for lies.