Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), Chapter 17

¹The Lord created man of the earth, and turned him into it again. ²He gave them few days, and a short time, and power also over the things therein. ³He endued them with strength by themselves, and made them according to his image, ⁴And put the fear of man upon all flesh, and gave him dominion over beasts and fowls. ⁵They received the use of the five operations of the Lord, and in the sixth place he imparted them understanding, and in the seventh speech, an interpreter of the cogitations thereof. ⁶Counsel, and a tongue, and eyes, ears, and a heart, gave he them to understand. ⁷Withal he filled them with the knowledge of understanding, and shewed them good and evil. ⁸He set his eye upon their hearts, that he might shew them the greatness of his works.

⁹He gave them to glory in his marvellous acts for ever, that they might declare his works with understanding. ¹⁰And the elect shall praise his holy name. ¹¹Beside this he gave them knowledge, and the law of life for an heritage. ¹²He made an everlasting covenant with them, and shewed them his judgments. ¹³Their eyes saw the majesty of his glory, and their ears heard his glorious voice. ¹⁴And he said unto them, Beware of all unrighteousness; and he gave every man commandment concerning his neighbour. ¹⁵Their ways are ever before him, and shall not be hid from his eyes. ¹⁶Every man from his youth is given to evil; neither could they make to themselves fleshy hearts for stony.

¹⁷For in the division of the nations of the whole earth he set a ruler over every people; but Israel is the Lord’s portion: ¹⁸Whom, being his firstborn, he nourisheth with discipline, and giving him the light of his love doth not forsake him. ¹⁹Therefore all their works are as the sun before him, and his eyes are continually upon their ways. ²⁰None of their unrighteous deeds are hid from him, but all their sins are before the Lord ²¹But the Lord being gracious and knowing his workmanship, neither left nor forsook them, but spared them. ²²The alms of a man is as a signet with him, and he will keep the good deeds of man as the apple of the eye, and give repentance to his sons and daughters. ²³Afterwards he will rise up and reward them, and render their recompence upon their heads. ²⁴But unto them that repent, he granted them return, and comforted those that failed in patience.

²⁵Return unto the Lord, and forsake thy sins, make thy prayer before his face, and offend less. ²⁶Turn again to the most High, and turn away from iniquity: for he will lead thee out of darkness into the light of health, and hate thou abomination vehemently. ²⁷Who shall praise the most High in the grave, instead of them which live and give thanks? ²⁸Thanksgiving perisheth from the dead, as from one that is not: the living and sound in heart shall praise the Lord. ²⁹How great is the lovingkindness of the Lord our God, and his compassion unto such as turn unto him in holiness! ³⁰For all things cannot be in men, because the son of man is not immortal. ³¹What is brighter than the sun? yet the light thereof faileth; and flesh and blood will imagine evil. ³²He vieweth the power of the height of heaven; and all men are but earth and ashes.