Sirach 15

¹He who fears the Lord will do this. He who has possession of the law will obtain her.

²She will meet him like a mother, and receive him like a wife married in her virginity.

³She will feed him with bread of understanding and give him water of wisdom to drink.

⁴He will be stayed upon her, and will not be moved. He will rely upon her, and will not be confounded.

⁵She will exalt him above his neighbors. She will open his mouth in the midst of the congregation.

⁶He will inherit joy, a crown of gladness, and an everlasting name.

⁷Foolish men will not obtain her. Sinners will not see her.

⁸She is far from pride. Liars will not remember her.

⁹Praise is not attractive in the mouth of a sinner; for it was not sent to him from the Lord.† (3 connections)

¹⁰For praise will be spoken in wisdom; The Lord will prosper it.† (1 connection)

¹¹Don’t say, “It is through the Lord that I fell away;” for you shall not do the things that he hates.⇄ (1 connection)

¹²Don’t say, “It is he that caused me to err;” for he has no need of a sinful man.

¹³The Lord hates every abomination; and those who fear him don’t love them.

¹⁴He himself made man from the beginning and left him in the hand of his own counsel.¶ (1 connection)

¹⁵If you choose, you can keep the commandments. To be faithful is a matter of your choice.

¹⁶He has set fire and water before you. You will stretch forth your hand to whichever you desire.

¹⁷Before man is life and death. Whichever he likes, it will be given to him.†⇄ (7 connections)

¹⁸For the wisdom of the Lord is great. He is mighty in power, and sees all things.

¹⁹His eyes are upon those who fear him. He knows every act of man.

²⁰He has not commanded any man to be ungodly. He has not given any man license to sin.† (1 connection)