Sirach 17

NEW JERUSALEM	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 The Lord fashioned human beings from the earth, to consign them back to it.	1 The Lord created man of the earth, and turned him into it again.
2 He gave them so many days and so much time, he gave them authority over everything on earth.	2 He gave them few days, and a short time, and power also over the things therein.
3 He clothed them in strength, like himself, and made them in his own image.	3 He endued them with strength by themselves, and made them according to his image,
4 He fil ed al living things with dread of human beings, making them masters over beasts and birds.	4 And put the fear of man upon all flesh, and gave him dominion over beasts and fowls.
5	5 They 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.]
6 He made them a tongue, eyes and ears, and gave them a heart to think with.	6 Counsel, and a tongue, and eyes, ears, and a heart, gave he them to understand.
7 He fil ed them with knowledge and intelligence, and showed them what was good and what evil.	7 Withal he filled them with the knowledge of understanding, and shewed them good and evil.
8 He put his own light in their hearts to show them the magnificence of his works,	8 He set his eye upon their hearts, that he might shew them the greatness of his works.
9	9 He gave them to glory in his marvellous acts for ever, that they might declare his works with understanding.
10 so that they would praise his holy name as they told of his magnificent works.	10 And the elect shall praise his holy name.
11 He set knowledge before them, he endowed them with the law of life.	11 Beside this he gave them knowledge, and the law of life for an heritage.
12 He established an eternal covenant with them, and revealed his judgements to them.	12 He made an everlasting covenant with them, and shewed them his judgments.
13 Their eyes saw the majesty of his glory, and their ears heard the glory of his voice.	13 Their eyes saw the majesty of his glory, and their ears heard his glorious voice.
14 He said to them, 'Beware of al wrong-doing'; he gave each a commandment concerning hisneighbour.	14 And he said unto them, Beware of all unrighteousness; and he gave every man commandment concerning his neighbour.
15 Their ways are always under his eye, they cannot be hidden from his sight.	15 Their ways are ever before him, and shall not be hid from his eyes.
16	16 Every man from his youth is given to evil; neither could they make to themselves fleshy hearts for stony.
17 Over each nation he has set a governor, but Israel is the Lord's own portion.	17 For in the division of the nations of the whole earth he set a ruler over every people; but Israel is the Lord's portion:
18	18 Whom, being his firstborn, he nourisheth with discipline, and giving him the light of his love doth not forsake him.
19 Their actions are al as plain as the sun to him, and his eyes rest constantly on their conduct.	19 Therefore all their works are as the sun before him, and his eyes are continually upon their ways.
20 Their iniquities are not hidden from him, al their sins are before the Lord.	20 None of their unrighteous deeds are hid from him, but all their sins are before the Lord
21	21 But the Lord being gracious and knowing his workmanship, neither left nor forsook them, but spared them.
22 Almsgiving is like a signet ring to him, he cherishes generosity like the pupil of an eye.	22 The 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.
23 One day he wil rise and reward them, he wil repay their deserts on their own heads.	23 Afterwards he will rise up and reward them, and render their recompence upon their heads.
24 But to those who repent he permits return, and he encourages those who have lost hope.	24 But unto them that repent, he granted them return, and comforted those that failed in patience.
25 Return to the Lord and renounce your sins, plead before his face, stop offending him.	25 Return unto the Lord, and forsake thy sins, make thy prayer before his face, and offend less.
26 Come back to the Most High, turn away from iniquity and hold all that is foul in abhorrence.	26 Turn 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.
27 Who is going to praise the Most High in Sheol if we do not glorify him while we are alive?	27 Who shall praise the most High in the grave, instead of them which live and give thanks?
28 The dead can praise no more than those who do not exist, only those with life and health can praisethe Lord.	28 Thanksgiving perisheth from the dead, as from one that is not: the living and sound in heart shall praise the Lord.
29 How great is the mercy of the Lord, his pardon for those who turn to him!	29 How great is the lovingkindness of the Lord our God, and his compassion unto such as turn unto him in holiness!
30 For we cannot have everything, human beings are not immortal.	30 For all things cannot be in men, because the son of man is not immortal.
31 What is brighter than the sun? And yet it fades. Flesh and blood think of nothing but evil.	31 What is brighter than the sun? yet the light thereof faileth; and flesh and blood will imagine evil.
32 He surveys the armies of the lofty sky, and al of us are only dust and ashes.	32 He vieweth the power of the height of heaven; and all men are but earth and ashes.