Ben Sira 15:1-11

1 If you fear the Lord, you will do this. Master his Law, and you will find Wisdom.
2 She will come to welcome you, like a mother or a young bride.
3 She will give you wisdom and knowledge like food and drink.
4 Rely on her for support, and you will never know the disgrace of failure.
5 She will make you more honored than all your neighbors; when you speak in the assembly, she will give you the right words.
6 You will find happiness and genuine joy; your name will be remembered forever.
7 But people who are foolish or sinful will never even catch sight of Wisdom.
8 She will have nothing to do with conceited people; she never enters the mind of liars.
9 It is not appropriate for a sinner to sing hymns of praise, because his worship is insincere.
10 A hymn should be an expression of wisdom, inspired by the Lord himself.
11 Don't blame the Lord for your sin; the Lord does not cause what he hates. 1

Cross References 1

  • 1. 15.11-20Ben Sira 17.1-12.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. [Hebrew] the Lord does not cause what he hates; [Greek] do not do what the Lord hates.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.