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15:1  The man who fears the Lord will do this, and he who holds to the law will obtain wisdom.
15:2  She will come to meet him like a mother, and like the wife of his youth she will welcome him.
15:3  She will feed him with the bread of understanding, and give him the water of wisdom to drink.
15:4  He will lean on her and will not fall, and he will rely on her and will not be put to shame.
15:5  She will exalt him above his neighbors, and will open his mouth in the midst of the assembly.
15:6  He will find gladness and a crown of rejoicing, and will acquire an everlasting name.
15:7  Foolish men will not obtain her, and sinful men will not see her.
15:8  She is far from men of pride, and liars will never think of her.
15:9  A hymn of praise is not fitting on the lips of a sinner, for it has not been sent from the Lord.
15:10  For a hymn of praise should be uttered in wisdom, and the Lord will prosper it.
15:11  Do not say, “Because of the Lord I left the right way”; for he will not do what he hates.
15:12  Do not say, “It was he who led me astray”; for he had no need of a sinful man.
15:13  The Lord hates all abominations, and they are not loved by those who fear him.
15:14  It was he who created man in the beginning, and he left him in the power of his own inclination.
15:15  If you will, you can keep the commandments, and to act faithfully is a matter of your own choice.
15:16  He has placed before you fire and water: stretch out your hand for whichever you wish.
15:17  Before a man are life and death, and whichever he chooses will be given to him.
15:18  For great is the wisdom of the Lord; he is mighty in power and sees everything;
15:19  his eyes are on those who fear him, and he knows every deed of man.
15:20  He has not commanded any one to be ungodly, and he has not given any one permission to sin.