"If you wish, you can keep the commandments and it is in your power to remain faithful.
HE has set fire and water before you; you stretch out your hand to whichever you prefer.
Life and death are set before man: whichever a man prefers will be given him.
How magnificent is the wisdom of the LORD! HE is powerful and all-seeing.
HIS eyes are on those who fear HIM. HE knows all the works of man.
HE has commanded no one to be godless and has given no one permission to sin." - Sirach 15:15-20
(This poem clearly declares that human beings are free and responsible. In his letter [1:13], James will recall the first sentence of this paragraph. In Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Moses already told his people: "Life and death are before you; choose."
At times the Scriptures seems to say that GOD pushes a person to sin in order to punish him later [see Exodus 10:27; 2 Samuel 24:1]; yet there is no doubt that humans are free. The Israelites were so convinced that nothing is done without GOD, that they had trouble explaining how someone can sin without this being GOD's will. Even though they lacked the words to express it, they always saw human beings as persons responsible for their actions.)
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