Sirach 17

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 The LORD from the earth created man, and in his own image he made him.	1 God created man from the earth, and he made him according to his own image.
2 Limited days of life he gives him and makes him return to earth again.	2 And he returned him again to it, and he clothed him with virtue 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 and time of his days, and he gave him authority over all the 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 placed the fear of him over all flesh, and he had dominion over wild beasts and flying things.
5 He forms men's tongues and eyes and ears, and imparts to them an understanding heart.	5 He created from him a helper, similar to himself. He gave them counsel, and language, and sight, and hearing, and a heart, in order to think. And he filled them with the discipline of understanding.
6 With wisdom and knowledge he fills them; good and evil he shows them.	6 He created within them the knowledge of the spirit. He filled their heart with understanding, and he showed 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 reveal to them the greatness of his works,
8 That they may describe the wonders of his deeds and praise his holy name.	8 so that they might highly praise the name of sanctification, and give glory to his wonders, so that they might declare the greatness of his works.
9 He has set before them knowledge, a law of life as their inheritance;	9 In addition, he gave them discipline and the law of life, as their inheritance.
10 An everlasting covenant he has made with them, his commandments he has revealed to them.	10 He established an eternal covenant with them, and he revealed to them his justice and judgments.
11 His majestic glory their eyes beheld, his glorious voice their ears heard.	11 And their eye saw the greatness of his honor, and their ears heard the honor of his 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 commanded each one concerning his neighbor.
13 Their ways are ever known to him, they cannot be hidden from his eyes.	13 Their ways are always in his sight; 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 each and every people, he has appointed 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 to be the manifest portion of God.
16 Their wickedness cannot be hidden from him; all of their sins are before the LORD.	16 And in the sight of God, all their works are like the sun. And his eyes, without ceasing, inspect their ways.
17 A man's goodness God cherishes like a signet ring, a man's virtue, like the apple of his eye.	17 The covenants are not hidden 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 almsgiving of a man is like a seal upon him, which will guard the grace of a man like the pupil of an eye.
19 But to the penitent he provides a way back, he encourages those who are losing hope!	19 And afterward, it will rise up and repay them their reward, each one upon his head, and it will return to the hidden places of the earth.
20 Return to the LORD and give up sin, pray to him and make your offenses few.	20 Now, to the repentant, he has given the way of justice, and he has strengthened those lacking in patience, and he has fastened them to a destiny of truth.
21 Turn again to the Most High and away from sin, hate intensely what he loathes;	21 Convert to the Lord, and relinquish your sins.
22 Who in the nether world can glorify the Most High in place of the living who offer their praise?	22 Make supplication before the face of the Lord, and diminish your offenses.
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 your injustice, and have immense hatred for abomination.
24 How great the mercy of the LORD, his forgiveness of those who return to him!	24 And acknowledge the justices and judgments of God, and stand firm in the circumstances set before you 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 generation, to those who live in order to 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 You should not linger in the error of the impious; confess before death. Confession perishes from the dead as if it were nothing.
27 God watches over the hosts of highest heaven, while all men are dust and ashes.	27 Confess while living; you should give thanks while you are still alive and healthy. And you should praise God and glory in his compassion.
	28 How great is the mercy of the Lord, and his forgiveness, for those who convert to him!
	29 For not all things can be in men, because the son of man is not immortal, and because they are pleased by the emptiness of malice.
	30 What is brighter than the sun? Yet this will fail. Or what is more wicked than that which flesh and blood has invented? And this will be reproved.
	31 He beholds the power of the heights of heaven. And all men are earth and ashes.