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15Whoever fears the Lord will do this,
   and whoever holds to the law will obtain wisdom.^*
2 She will come to meet him like a mother,
   and like a young bride she will welcome him.
³ She will feed him with the bread of learning,
   and give him the water of wisdom to drink.
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 neighbours,
   and will open his mouth in the midst of the assembly.
⁶ He will find gladness and a crown of rejoicing,
   and will inherit an everlasting name.
⁷ The foolish will not obtain her,
   and sinners will not see her.
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.
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^* what he hates.
¹² Do not say, ‘It was he who led me astray’;
   for he has no need of the sinful.
¹³ The Lord hates all abominations;
   such things are not loved by those who fear him.
¹⁴ It was he who created humankind in the beginning,
   and he left them in the power of their own free choice.
¹⁵ If you choose, you can keep the commandments,
   and to act faithfully is a matter of your own 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.
¹⁸ For great is the wisdom of the Lord;
   he is mighty in power and sees everything;
¹⁹ his eyes are on those who fear him,
   and he knows every human action.
²⁰ He has not commanded anyone to be wicked,
   and he has not given anyone permission to sin.