Sirach 15

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Whoever fears the Lord wil act like this, and whoever grasps the Law wil obtain wisdom.	1 Whoever fears God will do good. And whoever holds to justice will obtain it.
2 She will come to meet him like a mother, and receive him like a virgin bride.	2 And like an honorable mother, she will meet him, and like a virgin bride, she will receive him.
3 She will give him the bread of understanding to eat, and the water of wisdom to drink.	3 She will feed him with the bread of life and understanding. And she give him to drink from the water of salvific wisdom. And she will be confirmed in him, and he will not waver.
4 He will lean on her and wil not fal , he wil rely on her and not be put to shame.	4 And she will hold to him, and he will not be confounded. And she will exalt him, along with those closest to him.
5 She will raise him high above his neighbours, and in ful assembly she wil open his mouth.	5 And in the midst of the Church, she will open his mouth, and she will fill him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding, and she will clothe him with a robe of glory.
6 He will find happiness and a crown of joy, he wil inherit an everlasting name.	6 She will store up in him a treasure of rejoicing and exultation, and she will 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 will not take hold of her. And though understanding men will meet her, foolish men will not catch sight of her. For she is far from arrogance and deceit.
8 She stands remote from pride, and liars cannot cal her to mind.	8 Lying men will be wary of her. But men who speak the truth will be found with her, and they will have success, even when examined by God.
9 Praise is unseemly in a sinner's mouth, since it has not been put there by the Lord.	9 Praise is not beautiful in the mouth of a sinner.
10 For praise should be uttered only in wisdom, and the Lord himself then prompts it.	10 For wisdom was sent from God. And praise will stand before the wisdom of God, and praise will abound in the mouths of the faithful, and the sovereign Lord will give praise to wisdom.
11 Do not say, 'The Lord was responsible for my sinning,' for he does not do what he hates.	11 You should not say: “It is because of God that wisdom is absent.” For you should not do what he detests.
12 Do not say, 'It was he who led me astray,' for he has no use for a sinner.	12 You should not say: “He has led me astray.” For the impious are of no use to him.
13 The Lord hates al that is foul, and no one who fears him will love it either.	13 The Lord hates all abominable error, and those who fear him will not love such things.
14 He himself made human beings in the beginning, and then left them free to make their own decisions.	14 God established man from the beginning, and he left him in the hand of his own counsel.
15 If you choose, you will keep the commandments and so be faithful to his wil .	15 He added his commandments and precepts.
16 He has set fire and water before you; put out your hand to whichever you prefer.	16 If you choose to keep the commandments, and if, having chosen them, you fulfill them with perpetual fidelity, they will preserve you.
17 A human being has life and death before him; whichever he prefers wil be given him.	17 He has set water and fire before you. Extend your hand to whichever one you would choose.
18 For vast is the wisdom of the Lord; he is almighty and al -seeing.	18 Before man is life and death, good and evil. Whichever one he chooses will be given to him.
19 His eyes are on those who fear him, he notes every human action.	19 For the wisdom of God is manifold. And he is strong in power, seeing all things without ceasing.
20 He never commanded anyone to be godless, he has given no one permission to sin.	20 The eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear him, and he knows each one of the works of man.
	21 He has commanded no one to act impiously, and he has given no one permission to sin.
	22 For he does not desire a multitude of unfaithful and useless sons.