Sirach 17

¹ The Lord created man out of earth, and turned him back to it again.

² He gave to men few days, a limited time, but granted them authority over the things upon the earth.

³ He endowed them with strength like his own, and made them in his own image.

⁴ He placed the fear of them in all living beings, and granted them dominion over beasts and birds.

⁵ .

⁶ He made for them tongue and eyes; he gave them ears and a mind for thinking.

⁷ He filled them with knowledge and understanding, and showed them good and evil.

⁸ He set his eye upon their hearts to show them the majesty of his works.

⁹ .

¹⁰ And they will praise his holy name, to proclaim the grandeur of his works.

¹¹ He bestowed knowledge upon them, and allotted to them the law of life.

¹² He established with them an eternal covenant, and showed them his judgments.

¹³ Their eyes saw his glorious majesty, and their ears heard the glory of his voice.

¹⁴ And he said to them, "Beware of all unrighteousness." And he gave commandment to each of them concerning his neighbor.

¹⁵ Their ways are always before him, they will not be hid from his eyes.

¹⁶ .

¹⁷ He appointed a ruler for every nation, but Israel is the Lord's own portion.

¹⁸ .

¹⁹ All their works are as the sun before him, and his eyes are continually upon their ways.

²⁰ Their iniquities are not hidden from him, and all their sins are before the Lord.

²¹ .

²² A man's almsgiving is like a signet with the Lord, and he will keep a person's kindness like the apple of his eye.

²³ Afterward he will arise and requite them, and he will bring their recompense on their heads.

²⁴ Yet to those who repent he grants a return, and he encourages those whose endurance is failing.

²⁵ Turn to the Lord and forsake your sins; pray in his presence and lessen your offenses.

²⁶ Return to the Most High and turn away from iniquity, and hate abominations intensely.

²⁷ Who will sing praises to the Most High in Hades, as do those who are alive and give thanks?

²⁸ From the dead, as from one who does not exist, thanksgiving has ceased; he who is alive and well sings the Lord's praises.

²⁹ How great is the mercy of the Lord, and his forgiveness for those who turn to him!

³⁰ For all things cannot be in men, since a son of man is not immortal.

³¹ What is brighter than the sun? Yet its light fails. So flesh and blood devise evil.

³² He marshals the host of the height of heaven; but all men are dust and ashes.