Sirach 17

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 The LORD from the earth created man, and in his own image he made him.	1 God created man of the earth, and made him after his own image.
2 Limited days of life he gives him and makes him return to earth again.	2 And he turned him into it again, and clothed him with strength according to himself.
3 He endows man with a strength of his own, and with power over all things else on earth.	3 He gave him the number of his days and time, and gave him power over all things that are upon the earth.
4 He puts the fear of him in all flesh, and gives him rule over beasts and birds.	4 He put the fear of him upon all flesh, and he had dominion over beasts and fowls.
5 He forms men's tongues and eyes and ears, and imparts to them an understanding heart.	5 He created of him a helpmate like to himself: he gave them counsel, and a tongue, and eyes, and ears, and a heart to devise: and he filled them with the knowledge of understanding.
6 With wisdom and knowledge he fills them; good and evil he shows them.	6 He created in them the science of the spirit, he filled their heart with wisdom, and shewed them both good and evil.
7 He looks with favor upon their hearts, and shows them his glorious works,	7 He set his eye upon their hearts to shew them the greatness of his works:
8 That they may describe the wonders of his deeds and praise his holy name.	8 That they might praise the name which he hath sanctified: and glory in his wondrous acts, that they might declare the glorious things of his works.
9 He has set before them knowledge, a law of life as their inheritance;	9 Moreover he gave them instructions, and the law of life for an inheritance.
10 An everlasting covenant he has made with them, his commandments he has revealed to them.	10 He made an everlasting covenant with them, and he shewed them his justice and judgments.
11 His majestic glory their eyes beheld, his glorious voice their ears heard.	11 And their eye saw the majesty of his glory. and their ears heard his glorious voice, and he said to them: Beware of all iniquity.
12 He says to them, "Avoid all evil"; each of them he gives precepts about his fellow men.	12 And he gave to every one of them commandment concerning his neighbour.
13 Their ways are ever known to him, they cannot be hidden from his eyes.	13 Their ways are always before him, they are not hidden from his eyes.
14 Over every nation he places a ruler, but the LORD'S own portion is Israel.	14 Over every nation he set a ruler.
15 All their actions are clear as the sun to him, his eyes are ever upon their ways.	15 And Israel was made the manifest portion of God.
16 Their wickedness cannot be hidden from him; all of their sins are before the LORD.	16 And all their works are as the sun in the sight of God: and his eyes are continually upon their ways.
17 A man's goodness God cherishes like a signet ring, a man's virtue, like the apple of his eye.	17 Their covenants were not hid by their iniquity, and all their iniquities are in the sight of God.
18 Later he will rise up and repay them, and requite each one of them as they deserve.	18 The alms of a man is as a signet with him, and shall preserve the grace of a man as the apple of the eye:
19 But to the penitent he provides a way back, he encourages those who are losing hope!	19 And afterward he shall rise up, and shall render them their reward, to every one upon their own head, and shall turn them down into the bowels of the earth.
20 Return to the LORD and give up sin, pray to him and make your offenses few.	20 But to the penitent he hath given the way of justice, and he hath strengthened them that were fainting in patience, and hath appointed to them the lot of truth.
21 Turn again to the Most High and away from sin, hate intensely what he loathes;	21 Turn to the Lord, and forsake thy sins:
22 Who in the nether world can glorify the Most High in place of the living who offer their praise?	22 Make thy prayer before the face of the Lord, and offend less.
23 No more can the dead give praise than those who have never lived; they glorify the LORD who are alive and well.	23 Return to the Lord, and turn away from thy injustice, and greatly hate abomination.
24 How great the mercy of the LORD, his forgiveness of those who return to him!	24 And know the justices and judgments of God, and stand firm in the lot set before thee, and in prayer to the most high God.
25 The like cannot be found in men, for not immortal is any son of man.	25 Go to the side of the holy age, with them that live and give praise to God.
26 Is anything brighter than the sun? Yet it can be eclipsed. How obscure then the thoughts of flesh and blood!	26 Tarry not in the error of the ungodly, give glory before death. Praise perisheth from the dead as nothing.
27 God watches over the hosts of highest heaven, while all men are dust and ashes.	27 Give thanks whilst thou art living, whilst thou art alive and in health thou shalt give thanks, and shalt praise God, and shalt glory in his mercies.
	28 How great is the mercy of the Lord, and his forgiveness to them that turn to him I
	29 For all things cannot be in men, because the son of man is not immortal, and they are delighted with the vanity of evil.
	30 What is brighter than the sun; yet it shall be eclipsed. Or what is more wicked than that which flesh and blood hath invented? and this shall be reproved.
	31 He beholdeth the power of the height of heaven: and all men are earth and ashes.