Sirach 15

DOUAI-RHEIMS	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 He that feareth God, will do good: and he that possesseth justice, shall lay hold on her,	1 Whoever fears God will do good. And whoever holds to justice will obtain it.
2 And she will meet him as an honourable mother, and will receive him as a wife married of a virgin.	2 And like an honorable mother, she will meet him, and like a virgin bride, she will receive him.
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 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 And she shall hold him fast, and he shall not be confounded: and she shall exalt him among his neighbours.	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 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 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 She shall heap upon him a treasure of joy and gladness, and shall cause him to 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 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 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 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 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 not seemly in the mouth of a sinner:	9 Praise is not beautiful in the mouth of a sinner.
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 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 Say not: It is through God, that she is not with me: for do not thou the things that he hateth.	11 You should not say: “It is because of God that wisdom is absent.” For you should not do what he detests.
12 Say not: He hath caused me to err: for he hath no need of wicked men.	12 You should not say: “He has led me astray.” For the impious are of no use to him.
13 The Lord hateth all abomination of error, and they that fear him shall not love it.	13 The Lord hates all abominable error, and those who fear him will not love such things.
14 God made man from the beginning, and left him in the hand of his own counsel.	14 God established man from the beginning, and he left him in the hand of his own counsel.
15 He added his commandments and precepts.	15 He added his commandments and precepts.
16 If thou wilt keep the commandments and perform acceptable fidelity for ever, they shall preserve thee.	16 If you choose to keep the commandments, and if, having chosen them, you fulfill them with perpetual fidelity, they will preserve you.
17 He hath set water and fire before thee: stretch forth thy hand to which thou wilt.	17 He has set water and fire before you. Extend your hand to whichever one you would choose.
18 Before man is life and death, good and evil, that which he shall choose shall be given him:	18 Before man is life and death, good and evil. Whichever one he chooses will be given to him.
19 For the wisdom of God is great, and he is strong in power, seeing all men without ceasing.	19 For the wisdom of God is manifold. And he is strong in power, seeing all things without ceasing.
20 The eyes of the Lord are towards them that fear him, and he knoweth all the work of man.	20 The eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear him, and he knows each one of the works of man.
21 He hath commanded no man to do wickedly, and he hath given no man license to sin:	21 He has commanded no one to act impiously, and he has given no one permission to sin.
22 For he desireth not a multitude of faithless and unprofitable children.	22 For he does not desire a multitude of unfaithful and useless sons.