Sirach 15:11–20

11  fSay not thou, It is through the Lord that I fell away:

For thou oughtest not to do the things that he hateth.

12  fSay not thou, He hath caused me to err:

For he hath no need of the sinful man.

13  The Lord hateth all abomination;

And they that fear God love it not.

14  gHe himself made man from the beginning,

And hleft him in the hand of his counsel;

15  iIf thou wilt, to keep the commandments,

And to perform acceptable faithfulness.

16  kHe hath set fire and water before thee:

Stretch forth thy hand unto whether thou wilt.

17  lBefore man is life and death;

And whether him liketh shall be given him.

18  For mthe wisdom of the Lord is great,

And he is mighty in power, and beholdeth all things:

19  And nhis eyes are upon them that fear him,

And ohe knoweth every work of man.

20  pHe hath commanded no man to do wickedly,

Neither hath he given any man licence to sin.

XVI.