Sirach 17

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 The Lord fashioned human beings from the earth, to consign them back to it.	1 The LORD from the earth created man, and in his own image he made him.
2 He gave them so many days and so much time, he gave them authority over everything on earth.	2 Limited days of life he gives him and makes him return to earth again.
3 He clothed them in strength, like himself, and made them in his own image.	3 He endows man with a strength of his own, and with power over all things else on earth.
4 He fil ed al living things with dread of human beings, making them masters over beasts and birds.	4 He puts the fear of him in all flesh, and gives him rule over beasts and birds.
5	5 He forms men's tongues and eyes and ears, and imparts to them an understanding heart.
6 He made them a tongue, eyes and ears, and gave them a heart to think with.	6 With wisdom and knowledge he fills them; good and evil he shows them.
7 He fil ed them with knowledge and intelligence, and showed them what was good and what evil.	7 He looks with favor upon their hearts, and shows them his glorious works,
8 He put his own light in their hearts to show them the magnificence of his works,	8 That they may describe the wonders of his deeds and praise his holy name.
9	9 He has set before them knowledge, a law of life as their inheritance;
10 so that they would praise his holy name as they told of his magnificent works.	10 An everlasting covenant he has made with them, his commandments he has revealed to them.
11 He set knowledge before them, he endowed them with the law of life.	11 His majestic glory their eyes beheld, his glorious voice their ears heard.
12 He established an eternal covenant with them, and revealed his judgements to them.	12 He says to them, "Avoid all evil"; each of them he gives precepts about his fellow men.
13 Their eyes saw the majesty of his glory, and their ears heard the glory of his voice.	13 Their ways are ever known to him, they cannot be hidden from his eyes.
14 He said to them, 'Beware of al wrong-doing'; he gave each a commandment concerning hisneighbour.	14 Over every nation he places a ruler, but the LORD'S own portion is Israel.
15 Their ways are always under his eye, they cannot be hidden from his sight.	15 All their actions are clear as the sun to him, his eyes are ever upon their ways.
16	16 Their wickedness cannot be hidden from him; all of their sins are before the LORD.
17 Over each nation he has set a governor, but Israel is the Lord's own portion.	17 A man's goodness God cherishes like a signet ring, a man's virtue, like the apple of his eye.
18	18 Later he will rise up and repay them, and requite each one of them as they deserve.
19 Their actions are al as plain as the sun to him, and his eyes rest constantly on their conduct.	19 But to the penitent he provides a way back, he encourages those who are losing hope!
20 Their iniquities are not hidden from him, al their sins are before the Lord.	20 Return to the LORD and give up sin, pray to him and make your offenses few.
21	21 Turn again to the Most High and away from sin, hate intensely what he loathes;
22 Almsgiving is like a signet ring to him, he cherishes generosity like the pupil of an eye.	22 Who in the nether world can glorify the Most High in place of the living who offer their praise?
23 One day he wil rise and reward them, he wil repay their deserts on their own heads.	23 No more can the dead give praise than those who have never lived; they glorify the LORD who are alive and well.
24 But to those who repent he permits return, and he encourages those who have lost hope.	24 How great the mercy of the LORD, his forgiveness of those who return to him!
25 Return to the Lord and renounce your sins, plead before his face, stop offending him.	25 The like cannot be found in men, for not immortal is any son of man.
26 Come back to the Most High, turn away from iniquity and hold all that is foul in abhorrence.	26 Is anything brighter than the sun? Yet it can be eclipsed. How obscure then the thoughts of flesh and blood!
27 Who is going to praise the Most High in Sheol if we do not glorify him while we are alive?	27 God watches over the hosts of highest heaven, while all men are dust and ashes.
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.