【Sirach】Chapter 17 << Last Chapter Next Chapter >>

17:1 The LORD from the earth created man, and in his own image he made him.

17:2 Limited days of life he gives him and makes him return to earth again.

17:3 He endows man with a strength of his own, and with power over all things else on earth.

17:4 He puts the fear of him in all flesh, and gives him rule over beasts and birds.

17:5 He forms men’s tongues and eyes and ears, and imparts to them an understanding heart.

17:6 With wisdom and knowledge he fills them; good and evil he shows them.

17:7 He looks with favor upon their hearts, and shows them his glorious works,

17:8 That they may describe the wonders of his deeds and praise his holy name.

17:9 He has set before them knowledge, a law of life as their inheritance;

17:10 An everlasting covenant he has made with them, his commandments he has revealed to them.

17:11 His majestic glory their eyes beheld, his glorious voice their ears heard.

17:12 He says to them, "Avoid all evil"; each of them he gives precepts about his fellow men.

17:13 Their ways are ever known to him, they cannot be hidden from his eyes.

17:14 Over every nation he places a ruler, but the LORD’s own portion is Israel.

17:15 All their actions are clear as the sun to him, his eyes are ever upon their ways.

17:16 Their wickedness cannot be hidden from him; all of their sins are before the LORD.

17:17 A man’s goodness God cherishes like a signet ring, a man’s virtue, like the apple of his eye.

17:18 Later he will rise up and repay them, and requite each one of them as they deserve.

17:19 But to the penitent he provides a way back, he encourages those who are losing hope!

17:20 Return to the LORD and give up sin, pray to him and make your offenses few.

17:21 Turn again to the Most High and away from sin, hate intensely what he loathes;

17:22 Who in the nether world can glorify the Most High in place of the living who offer their praise?

17:23 No more can the dead give praise than those who have never lived; they glorify the LORD who are alive and well.

17:24 How great the mercy of the LORD, his forgiveness of those who return to him!

17:25 The like cannot be found in men, for not immortal is any son of man.

17:26 Is anything brighter than the sun? Yet it can be eclipsed. How obscure then the thoughts of flesh and blood!

17:27 God watches over the hosts of highest heaven, while all men are dust and ashes.

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