Sirach 17

¹The Lord created mankind out of earth,

and turned them back to it again.1

²He gave them days by number, and a set time,

and gave them authority over the things that are on it.

³He endowed them with strength proper to them,

and made them according to his own image.

⁴He put the fear of man upon all flesh,

and gave him dominion over beasts and birds. ⁵

⁶He gave them counsel, tongue, eyes,

ears, and heart to have understanding.

⁷He filled them with the knowledge of wisdom,

and showed them good and evil.

⁸He set his eye upon their hearts,

to show them the majesty of his works. ⁹

¹⁰And they will praise his holy name,

that they may declare the majesty of his works.

¹¹He added to them knowledge,

and gave them a law of life for a heritage.

¹²He made an everlasting covenant with them,

and showed them his decrees.

¹³Their eyes saw the majesty of his glory.

Their ears heard the glory of his voice.

¹⁴He said to them, “Beware of all unrighteousness.”

So he gave them commandment, each man concerning his neighbor.

¹⁵Their ways are ever before him.

They will not be hidden from his eyes. ¹⁶

¹⁷For every nation he appointed a ruler,

but Israel is the Lord’s portion. ¹⁸

¹⁹All their works are as clear as the sun before him.

His eyes are continually upon their ways.

²⁰Their iniquities are not hidden from him.

All their sins are before the Lord. ²¹

²²With him the alms of a man is as a signet.

He will keep a man’s kindness as the pupil of the eye.

²³Afterwards he will rise up and repay them,

and give their repayment upon their head.

²⁴However to those who repent he grants a return.

He comforts those who are losing hope.

²⁵Return to the Lord, and forsake sins.

Make your prayer before his face offend less.

²⁶Turn again to the Most High, and turn away from iniquity.

Greatly hate the abominable thing.1

²⁷Who will give praise to the Most High in Hades,

in place of the living who return thanks?

²⁸Thanksgiving perishes from the dead, as from one who doesn’t exist.

He who is in life and health will praise the Lord.1

²⁹How great is the mercy of the Lord,

and his forgiveness to those who turn to him!

³⁰For humans are not capable of everything,

because the son of man is not immortal.

³¹What is brighter than the sun? Yet even this can be eclipsed.

So flesh and blood devise evil.

³²He looks upon the power of the height of heaven,

while all men are earth and ashes.