Sirach 17

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 The LORD from the earth created man, and in his own image he made him.	1 The Lord fashioned human beings from the earth, to consign them back to it.
2 Limited days of life he gives him and makes him return to earth again.	2 He gave them so many days and so much time, he gave them authority over everything on earth.
3 He endows man with a strength of his own, and with power over all things else on earth.	3 He clothed them in strength, like himself, and made them in his own image.
4 He puts the fear of him in all flesh, and gives him rule over beasts and birds.	4 He fil ed al living things with dread of human beings, making them masters over beasts and birds.
5 He forms men's tongues and eyes and ears, and imparts to them an understanding heart.	5
6 With wisdom and knowledge he fills them; good and evil he shows them.	6 He made them a tongue, eyes and ears, and gave them a heart to think with.
7 He looks with favor upon their hearts, and shows them his glorious works,	7 He fil ed them with knowledge and intelligence, and showed them what was good and what evil.
8 That they may describe the wonders of his deeds and praise his holy name.	8 He put his own light in their hearts to show them the magnificence of his works,
9 He has set before them knowledge, a law of life as their inheritance;	9
10 An everlasting covenant he has made with them, his commandments he has revealed to them.	10 so that they would praise his holy name as they told of his magnificent works.
11 His majestic glory their eyes beheld, his glorious voice their ears heard.	11 He set knowledge before them, he endowed them with the law of life.
12 He says to them, "Avoid all evil"; each of them he gives precepts about his fellow men.	12 He established an eternal covenant with them, and revealed his judgements to them.
13 Their ways are ever known to him, they cannot be hidden from his eyes.	13 Their eyes saw the majesty of his glory, and their ears heard the glory of his voice.
14 Over every nation he places a ruler, but the LORD'S own portion is Israel.	14 He said to them, 'Beware of al wrong-doing'; he gave each a commandment concerning hisneighbour.
15 All their actions are clear as the sun to him, his eyes are ever upon their ways.	15 Their ways are always under his eye, they cannot be hidden from his sight.
16 Their wickedness cannot be hidden from him; all of their sins are before the LORD.	16
17 A man's goodness God cherishes like a signet ring, a man's virtue, like the apple of his eye.	17 Over each nation he has set a governor, but Israel is the Lord's own portion.
18 Later he will rise up and repay them, and requite each one of them as they deserve.	18
19 But to the penitent he provides a way back, he encourages those who are losing hope!	19 Their actions are al as plain as the sun to him, and his eyes rest constantly on their conduct.
20 Return to the LORD and give up sin, pray to him and make your offenses few.	20 Their iniquities are not hidden from him, al their sins are before the Lord.
21 Turn again to the Most High and away from sin, hate intensely what he loathes;	21
22 Who in the nether world can glorify the Most High in place of the living who offer their praise?	22 Almsgiving is like a signet ring to him, he cherishes generosity like the pupil of an eye.
23 No more can the dead give praise than those who have never lived; they glorify the LORD who are alive and well.	23 One day he wil rise and reward them, he wil repay their deserts on their own heads.
24 How great the mercy of the LORD, his forgiveness of those who return to him!	24 But to those who repent he permits return, and he encourages those who have lost hope.
25 The like cannot be found in men, for not immortal is any son of man.	25 Return to the Lord and renounce your sins, plead before his face, stop offending him.
26 Is anything brighter than the sun? Yet it can be eclipsed. How obscure then the thoughts of flesh and blood!	26 Come back to the Most High, turn away from iniquity and hold all that is foul in abhorrence.
27 God watches over the hosts of highest heaven, while all men are dust and ashes.	27 Who is going to praise the Most High in Sheol if we do not glorify him while we are alive?
	28 The dead can praise no more than those who do not exist, only those with life and health can praisethe Lord.
	29 How great is the mercy of the Lord, his pardon for those who turn to him!
	30 For we cannot have everything, human beings are not immortal.
	31 What is brighter than the sun? And yet it fades. Flesh and blood think of nothing but evil.
	32 He surveys the armies of the lofty sky, and al of us are only dust and ashes.