Ecclesiasticus 17

VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Deus creavit de terra hominem, et secundum imaginem suam fecit illum :	1 The LORD from the earth created man, and in his own image he made him.
2 et iterum convertit illum in ipsam, et secundum se vestivit illum virtute.	2 Limited days of life he gives him and makes him return to earth again.
3 Numerum dierum et tempus dedit illi, et dedit illi potestatem eorum quæ sunt super terram.	3 He endows man with a strength of his own, and with power over all things else on earth.
4 Posuit timorem illius super omnem carnem, et dominatus est bestiarum et volatilium.	4 He puts the fear of him in all flesh, and gives him rule over beasts and birds.
5 Creavit ex ipso adjutorium simile sibi : consilium, et linguam, et oculos, et aures, et cor dedit illis excogitandi, et disciplina intellectus replevit illos.	5 He forms men's tongues and eyes and ears, and imparts to them an understanding heart.
6 Creavit illis scientiam spiritus, sensu implevit cor illorum, et mala et bona ostendit illis.	6 With wisdom and knowledge he fills them; good and evil he shows them.
7 Posuit oculum suum super corda illorum, ostendere illis magnalia operum suorum :	7 He looks with favor upon their hearts, and shows them his glorious works,
8 ut nomen sanctificationis collaudent, et gloriari in mirabilibus illius ; ut magnalia enarrent operum ejus.	8 That they may describe the wonders of his deeds and praise his holy name.
9 Addidit illis disciplinam, et legem vitæ hæreditavit illos.	9 He has set before them knowledge, a law of life as their inheritance;
10 Testamentum æternum constituit cum illis, et justitiam et judicia sua ostendit illis.	10 An everlasting covenant he has made with them, his commandments he has revealed to them.
11 Et magnalia honoris ejus vidit oculus illorum, et honorem vocis audierunt aures illorum. Et dixit illis : Attendite ab omni iniquo.	11 His majestic glory their eyes beheld, his glorious voice their ears heard.
12 Et mandavit illis unicuique de proximo suo.	12 He says to them, "Avoid all evil"; each of them he gives precepts about his fellow men.
13 Viæ illorum coram ipso sunt semper : non sunt absconsæ ab oculis ipsius.	13 Their ways are ever known to him, they cannot be hidden from his eyes.
14 In unamquamque gentem præposuit rectorem :	14 Over every nation he places a ruler, but the LORD'S own portion is Israel.
15 et pars Dei Israël facta est manifesta.	15 All their actions are clear as the sun to him, his eyes are ever upon their ways.
16 Et omnia opera illorum velut sol in conspectu Dei : et oculi ejus sine intermissione inspicientes in viis eorum.	16 Their wickedness cannot be hidden from him; all of their sins are before the LORD.
17 Non sunt absconsa testamenta per iniquitatem illorum, et omnes iniquitates eorum in conspectu Dei.	17 A man's goodness God cherishes like a signet ring, a man's virtue, like the apple of his eye.
18 Eleemosyna viri quasi signaculum cum ipso, et gratiam hominis quasi pupillam conservabit.	18 Later he will rise up and repay them, and requite each one of them as they deserve.
19 Et postea resurget, et retribuet illis retributionem, unicuique in caput ipsorum, et convertet in interiores partes terræ.	19 But to the penitent he provides a way back, he encourages those who are losing hope!
20 P?nitentibus autem dedit viam justitiæ, et confirmavit deficientes sustinere, et destinavit illis sortem veritatis.	20 Return to the LORD and give up sin, pray to him and make your offenses few.
21 Convertere ad Dominum, et relinque peccata tua :	21 Turn again to the Most High and away from sin, hate intensely what he loathes;
22 precare ante faciem Domini, et minue offendicula.	22 Who in the nether world can glorify the Most High in place of the living who offer their praise?
23 Revertere ad Dominum, et avertere ab injustitia tua, et nimis odito execrationem :	23 No more can the dead give praise than those who have never lived; they glorify the LORD who are alive and well.
24 et cognosce justitias et judicia Dei, et sta in sorte propositionis, et orationis altissimi Dei.	24 How great the mercy of the LORD, his forgiveness of those who return to him!
25 In partes vade sæculi sancti, cum vivis et dantibus confessionem Deo.	25 The like cannot be found in men, for not immortal is any son of man.
26 Non demoreris in errore impiorum : ante mortem confitere : a mortuo, quasi nihil, perit confessio.	26 Is anything brighter than the sun? Yet it can be eclipsed. How obscure then the thoughts of flesh and blood!
27 Confiteberis vivens, vivus et sanus confiteberis : et laudabis Deum, et gloriaberis in miserationibus illius.	27 God watches over the hosts of highest heaven, while all men are dust and ashes.
28 Quam magna misericordia Domini, et propitiatio illius convertentibus ad se !
29 Nec enim omnia possunt esse in hominibus, quoniam non est immortalis filius hominis, et in vanitate malitiæ placuerunt.
30 Quid lucidius sole ? et hic deficiet ; aut quid nequius quam quod excogitavit caro et sanguis ? et hoc arguetur.
31 Virtutem altitudinis cæli ipse conspicit : et omnes homines terra et cinis.