Chapter 15
- 1
- He who fears the LORD will do this; he who is practiced in the law will come to wisdom.
- 2
- Motherlike she will meet him, like a young bride she will embrace him,
- 3
- Nourish him with the bread of understanding, and give him the water of learning to drink.
- 4
- He will lean upon her and not fall, he will trust in her and not be put to shame.
- 5
- She will exalt him above his fellows; in the assembly she will make him eloquent.
- 6
- Joy and gladness he will find, an everlasting name inherit.
- 7
- Worthless men will not attain to her, haughty men will not behold her.
- 8
- Far from the impious is she, not to be spoken of by liars.
- 9
- Unseemly is praise on a sinner's lips, for it is not accorded to him by God.
- 10
- But praise is offered by the wise man's tongue; its rightful steward will proclaim it.
- 11
- Say not: "It was God's doing that I fell away"; for what he hates he does not do.
- 12
- Say not: "It was he who set me astray"; for he has no need of wicked man.
- 13
- Abominable wickedness the LORD hates, he does not let it befall those who fear him.
- 14
- When God, in the beginning, created man, he made him subject to his own free choice.
- 15
- If you choose you can keep the commandments; it is loyalty to do his will.
- 16
- There are set before you fire and water; to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand.
- 17
- Before man are life and death, whichever he chooses shall be given him.
- 18
- Immense is the wisdom of the LORD; he is mighty in power, and all-seeing.
- 19
- The eyes of God see all he has made; he understands man's every deed.
- 20
- No man does he command to sin, to none does he give strength for lies.
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