15 Whoever fears the Lord will do this,
and whoever holds to the law will obtain wisdom.[a]
2 She will come to meet him like a mother,
and like a young bride she will welcome him.(A)
3 She will feed him with the bread of understanding
and give him the water of wisdom to drink.(B)
4 He will lean on her and not fall,
and he will 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.(C)
6 Gladness[b] and a crown of rejoicing
and an everlasting name he will inherit.(D)
7 The foolish will not obtain her,
and sinners will not see her.(E)
8 She is far from arrogance,
and liars will never think of her.
9 Praise is unseemly on the lips of a sinner,
for it has not been sent from the Lord.(F)
10 For in wisdom must praise be uttered,
and the Lord will make it prosper.
Freedom of Choice
11 Do not say, “It was the Lord’s doing that I fell away,”
for he does not do[c] what he hates.(G)
12 Do not say, “It was he who led me astray,”
for he has no need of the sinful.(H)
13 The Lord hates all abominations;
such things are not loved by those who fear him.
14 It was he who created humans in the beginning,
and he left them in the power of their own inclinations.[d](I)
15 If you choose, you can keep the commandments,
and to act faithfully is a matter of your choice.
16 He has placed before you fire and water;
stretch out your hand for whichever you choose.
17 Before each person are life and death,
and whichever one chooses will be given.(J)
18 For great is the wisdom of the Lord;
he is mighty in power and sees everything;(K)
19 his eyes are on those who fear him,
and he knows every human action.(L)
20 He has not commanded anyone to be ungodly,
and he has not given anyone permission to sin.(M)
Footnotes
- 15.1Gk her
- 15.6Other ancient authorities read He will find gladness
- 15.11Heb: Gk you ought not to do
- 15.14Heb: Gk deliberation
Cross references
- 15.2 : Prov 7.4; Wis 8.2, 9; 2 Esd 13.55
- 15.3 : Jn 4.10, 14; 7.38
- 15.5 : Wis 8.10
- 15.6 : Sir 1.11; 6.31
- 15.7 : Wis 1.4
- 15.9 : Ps 33.1
- 15.11 : Jas 1.13, 14
- 15.12 : v 20
- 15.14 : Gen 1.26, 27; 2.16, 17
- 15.17 : Deut 30.15, 19; Josh 24.15; Jer 21.8
- 15.18 : Ps 147.5
- 15.19 : Ps 33.18; Sir 17.1; 23.19; 39.19
- 15.20 : v 12