Sirach 4:16-18

Common English Bible

¹⁶ If they persevere in faith,
they will inherit her,
    and their descendants will possess her.
¹⁷ At first she will walk
in twists and turns with them.
    She will bring fear and dread upon them,
    and she will torture them
    with her discipline
        until she trusts them completely.
        She will test them
        with her commandments,
¹⁸         and again she will come straight back to them, make them glad,
        and reveal to them her secrets.