| 1 The LORD from the earth created man, and in his own image he made him. |
| 2 Limited days of life he gives him and makes him return to earth again. |
| 3 He endows man with a strength of his own, and with power over all things else on earth. |
| 4 He puts the fear of him in all flesh, and gives him rule over beasts and birds. |
| 5 He forms men's tongues and eyes and ears, and imparts to them an understanding heart. |
| 6 With wisdom and knowledge he fills them; good and evil he shows them. |
| 7 He looks with favor upon their hearts, and shows them his glorious works, |
| 8 That they may describe the wonders of his deeds and praise his holy name. |
| 9 He has set before them knowledge, a law of life as their inheritance; |
| 10 An everlasting covenant he has made with them, his commandments he has revealed to them. |
| 11 His majestic glory their eyes beheld, his glorious voice their ears heard. |
| 12 He says to them, "Avoid all evil"; each of them he gives precepts about his fellow men. |
| 13 Their ways are ever known to him, they cannot be hidden from his eyes. |
| 14 Over every nation he places a ruler, but the LORD'S own portion is Israel. |
| 15 All their actions are clear as the sun to him, his eyes are ever upon their ways. |
| 16 Their wickedness cannot be hidden from him; all of their sins are before the LORD. |
| 17 A man's goodness God cherishes like a signet ring, a man's virtue, like the apple of his eye. |
| 18 Later he will rise up and repay them, and requite each one of them as they deserve. |
| 19 But to the penitent he provides a way back, he encourages those who are losing hope! |
| 20 Return to the LORD and give up sin, pray to him and make your offenses few. |
| 21 Turn again to the Most High and away from sin, hate intensely what he loathes; |
| 22 Who in the nether world can glorify the Most High in place of the living who offer their praise? |
| 23 No more can the dead give praise than those who have never lived; they glorify the LORD who are alive and well. |
| 24 How great the mercy of the LORD, his forgiveness of those who return to him! |
| 25 The like cannot be found in men, for not immortal is any son of man. |
| 26 Is anything brighter than the sun? Yet it can be eclipsed. How obscure then the thoughts of flesh and blood! |
| 27 God watches over the hosts of highest heaven, while all men are dust and ashes. |