| 1 The Lord fashioned human beings from the earth, to consign them back to it. |
| 2 He gave them so many days and so much time, he gave them authority over everything on earth. |
| 3 He clothed them in strength, like himself, and made them in his own image. |
| 4 He fil ed al living things with dread of human beings, making them masters over beasts and birds. |
| 5 |
| 6 He made them a tongue, eyes and ears, and gave them a heart to think with. |
| 7 He fil ed them with knowledge and intelligence, and showed them what was good and what evil. |
| 8 He put his own light in their hearts to show them the magnificence of his works, |
| 9 |
| 10 so that they would praise his holy name as they told of his magnificent works. |
| 11 He set knowledge before them, he endowed them with the law of life. |
| 12 He established an eternal covenant with them, and revealed his judgements to them. |
| 13 Their eyes saw the majesty of his glory, and their ears heard the glory of his voice. |
| 14 He said to them, 'Beware of al wrong-doing'; he gave each a commandment concerning hisneighbour. |
| 15 Their ways are always under his eye, they cannot be hidden from his sight. |
| 16 |
| 17 Over each nation he has set a governor, but Israel is the Lord's own portion. |
| 18 |
| 19 Their actions are al as plain as the sun to him, and his eyes rest constantly on their conduct. |
| 20 Their iniquities are not hidden from him, al their sins are before the Lord. |
| 21 |
| 22 Almsgiving is like a signet ring to him, he cherishes generosity like the pupil of an eye. |
| 23 One day he wil rise and reward them, he wil repay their deserts on their own heads. |
| 24 But to those who repent he permits return, and he encourages those who have lost hope. |
| 25 Return to the Lord and renounce your sins, plead before his face, stop offending him. |
| 26 Come back to the Most High, turn away from iniquity and hold all that is foul in abhorrence. |
| 27 Who is going to praise the Most High in Sheol if we do not glorify him while we are alive? |
| 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. |