Sirach 15

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition	NEW JERUSALEM
1 The man who fears the Lord will do this, and he who holds to the law will obtain wisdom.	1 Whoever fears the Lord wil act like this, and whoever grasps the Law wil obtain wisdom.
2 She will come to meet him like a mother, and like the wife of his youth she will welcome him.	2 She will come to meet him like a mother, and receive him like a virgin bride.
3 She will feed him with the bread of understanding, and give him the water of wisdom to drink.	3 She will give him the bread of understanding to eat, and the water of wisdom to drink.
4 He will lean on her and will not fall, and he will rely on her and will not be put to shame.	4 He will lean on her and wil not fal , he wil rely on her and not be put to shame.
5 She will exalt him above his neighbors, and will open his mouth in the midst of the assembly.	5 She will raise him high above his neighbours, and in ful assembly she wil open his mouth.
6 He will find gladness and a crown of rejoicing, and will acquire an everlasting name.	6 He will find happiness and a crown of joy, he wil inherit an everlasting name.
7 Foolish men will not obtain her, and sinful men will not see her.	7 Fools wil not gain possession of her, nor will sinners set eyes on her.
8 She is far from men of pride, and liars will never think of her.	8 She stands remote from pride, and liars cannot cal her to mind.
9 A hymn of praise is not fitting on the lips of a sinner, for it has not been sent from the Lord.	9 Praise is unseemly in a sinner's mouth, since it has not been put there by the Lord.
10 For a hymn of praise should be uttered in wisdom, and the Lord will prosper it.	10 For praise should be uttered only in wisdom, and the Lord himself then prompts it.
11 Do not say, "Because of the Lord I left the right way"; for he will not do what he hates.	11 Do not say, 'The Lord was responsible for my sinning,' for he does not do what he hates.
12 Do not say, "It was he who led me astray"; for he had no need of a sinful man.	12 Do not say, 'It was he who led me astray,' for he has no use for a sinner.
13 The Lord hates all abominations, and they are not loved by those who fear him.	13 The Lord hates al that is foul, and no one who fears him will love it either.
14 It was he who created man in the beginning, and he left him in the power of his own inclination.	14 He himself made human beings in the beginning, and then left them free to make their own decisions.
15 If you will, you can keep the commandments, and to act faithfully is a matter of your own choice.	15 If you choose, you will keep the commandments and so be faithful to his wil .
16 He has placed before you fire and water: stretch out your hand for whichever you wish.	16 He has set fire and water before you; put out your hand to whichever you prefer.
17 Before a man are life and death, and whichever he chooses will be given to him.	17 A human being has life and death before him; whichever he prefers wil be given him.
18 For great is the wisdom of the Lord; he is mighty in power and sees everything;	18 For vast is the wisdom of the Lord; he is almighty and al -seeing.
19 his eyes are on those who fear him, and he knows every deed of man.	19 His eyes are on those who fear him, he notes every human action.
20 He has not commanded any one to be ungodly, and he has not given any one permission to sin.	20 He never commanded anyone to be godless, he has given no one permission to sin.