Chapter 16: Ecclesiasticus
DOUAY RHEIMS BIBLE
THE CHALLONER REVISION
ECCLESIASTICUS
CHAPTER 16
Wisdom embraceth them that fear God. God is not the author of sin.
H
E that feareth God, will do good: and he that possesseth justice, shall lay hold on her,
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And she will meet him as an honourable mother, and will receive him as a wife married of a virgin.
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With the bread of life and understanding, she shall feed him, and give him the water of wholesome wisdom to drink: and she shall be made strong in him, and he shall not be moved.
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And she shall hold him fast, and he shall not be confounded: and she shall exalt him among his neighbours.
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And in the midst of the church she shall open his mouth, and shall fill him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding, and shall clothe him with a robe of glory.
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She shall heap upon him a treasure of joy and gladness, and shall cause him to inherit an everlasting name.
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But foolish men shall not obtain her, and wise men shall meet her, foolish men shall not see her: for she is far from pride and deceit.
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Lying men shall be mindful of her: but men that speak truth shall be found with her, and shall advance, even till they come to the sight of God.
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Praise is not seemly in the mouth of a sinner:
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For wisdom came forth from God: for praise shall be with the wisdom of God, and shall abound in a faithful mouth, and the sovereign Lord will give praise unto it.
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Say not: It is through God, that she is not with me: for do not thou the things that he hateth.
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Say not: He hath caused me to err: for he hath no need of wicked men.
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The Lord hateth all abomination of error, and they that fear him shall not love it.
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God made man from the beginning, and left him in the hand of his own counsel.
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He added his commandments and precepts.
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If thou wilt keep the commandments and perform acceptable fidelity for ever, they shall preserve thee.
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He hath set water and fire before thee: stretch forth thy hand to which thou wilt.
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Before man is life and death, good and evil, that which he shall choose shall be given him:
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For the wisdom of God is great, and he is strong in power, seeing all men without ceasing.
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The eyes of the Lord are towards them that fear him, and he knoweth al the work of man.
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He hath commanded no man to do wickedly, and he hath given no man license to sin;
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For he desireth not a multitude of faithless and unprofitable children.