Sirach 17

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 The Lord fashioned human beings from the earth, to consign them back to it.	1 God created man from the earth, and he made him according to his own image.
2 He gave them so many days and so much time, he gave them authority over everything on earth.	2 And he returned him again to it, and he clothed him with virtue according to himself.
3 He clothed them in strength, like himself, and made them in his own image.	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 fil ed al living things with dread of human beings, making them masters 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	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 He made them a tongue, eyes and ears, and gave them a heart to think with.	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 fil ed them with knowledge and intelligence, and showed them what was good and what evil.	7 He set his eye upon their hearts, to reveal to them the greatness of his works,
8 He put his own light in their hearts to show them the magnificence of his works,	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	9 In addition, he gave them discipline and the law of life, as their inheritance.
10 so that they would praise his holy name as they told of his magnificent works.	10 He established an eternal covenant with them, and he revealed to them his justice and judgments.
11 He set knowledge before them, he endowed them with the law of life.	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 established an eternal covenant with them, and revealed his judgements to them.	12 And he commanded each one concerning his neighbor.
13 Their eyes saw the majesty of his glory, and their ears heard the glory of his voice.	13 Their ways are always in his sight; they are not hidden from his eyes.
14 He said to them, 'Beware of al wrong-doing'; he gave each a commandment concerning hisneighbour.	14 Over each and every people, he has appointed a ruler.
15 Their ways are always under his eye, they cannot be hidden from his sight.	15 And Israel was made to be the manifest portion of God.
16	16 And in the sight of God, all their works are like the sun. And his eyes, without ceasing, inspect their ways.
17 Over each nation he has set a governor, but Israel is the Lord's own portion.	17 The covenants are not hidden by their iniquity, and all their iniquities are in the sight of God.
18	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 Their actions are al as plain as the sun to him, and his eyes rest constantly on their conduct.	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 Their iniquities are not hidden from him, al their sins are before the Lord.	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	21 Convert to the Lord, and relinquish your sins.
22 Almsgiving is like a signet ring to him, he cherishes generosity like the pupil of an eye.	22 Make supplication before the face of the Lord, and diminish your offenses.
23 One day he wil rise and reward them, he wil repay their deserts on their own heads.	23 Return to the Lord, and turn away from your injustice, and have immense hatred for abomination.
24 But to those who repent he permits return, and he encourages those who have lost hope.	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 Return to the Lord and renounce your sins, plead before his face, stop offending him.	25 Go to the side of the holy generation, to those who live in order to give praise to God.
26 Come back to the Most High, turn away from iniquity and hold all that is foul in abhorrence.	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 Who is going to praise the Most High in Sheol if we do not glorify him while we are alive?	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 The dead can praise no more than those who do not exist, only those with life and health can praisethe Lord.	28 How great is the mercy of the Lord, and his forgiveness, for those who convert to him!
29 How great is the mercy of the Lord, his pardon for those who turn 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 For we cannot have everything, human beings are not immortal.	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 What is brighter than the sun? And yet it fades. Flesh and blood think of nothing but evil.	31 He beholds the power of the heights of heaven. And all men are earth and ashes.
32 He surveys the armies of the lofty sky, and al of us are only dust and ashes.