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The Book of Jesus Sirach

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- Chapter 17 -

The creation and favour of God to man. An exhortation to turn to God.

1
God created man from the earth, and he made him according to his own image.
2
And he returned him again to it, and he clothed him with virtue according to himself.
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 placed the fear of him over all flesh, and he had dominion over wild beasts and flying things.
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 created within them the knowledge of the spirit. He filled their heart with understanding, and he showed them both good and evil.
7
He set his eye upon their hearts, to reveal to them the greatness 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
In addition, he gave them discipline and the law of life, as their inheritance.
10
He established an eternal covenant with them, and he revealed to them his justice and judgments.
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.”(a)
12
And he commanded each one concerning his neighbor.
13
Their ways are always in his sight; they are not hidden from his eyes.
14
Over each and every people, he has appointed a ruler.
15
And Israel was made to be the manifest portion of God.
16
And in the sight of God, all their works are like the sun. And his eyes, without ceasing, inspect their ways.
17
The covenants are not hidden by their iniquity, and all their iniquities are in the sight of God.
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
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
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
Convert to the Lord, and relinquish your sins.
22
Make supplication before the face of the Lord, and diminish your offenses.(b)
23
Return to the Lord, and turn away from your injustice, and have immense hatred for abomination.
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
Go to the side of the holy generation, to those who live in order to give praise to God.(c)
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
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
How great is the mercy of the Lord, and his forgiveness, for those who convert 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
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
He beholds the power of the heights of heaven. And all men are earth and ashes.

Footnotes

(a)17:11 Their eye saw, etc:Viz., when he gave the law on mount Sinai.(Challoner)
(b)17:22 Offend less:Minue offendicula. That is, remove sins and the occasions of sins.(Challoner)
(c)17:25 Go to the side, etc:Fly from the side of Satan and sin, and join with the holy ones, that follow God and godliness.(Challoner)

The creation and favour of God to man. An exhortation to turn to God.

1
The Lord created mankind out of earth, and turned them back to it again.
2
He gave them days by number, and a set time, and gave them authority over the things that are on it.
3
He endowed them with strength proper to them, and made them according to his own image.
4
He put the fear of man upon all flesh, and gave him dominion over beasts and birds.
5
(a)
6
He gave them counsel, tongue, eyes, ears, and heart to have understanding.
7
He filled them with the knowledge of wisdom, and showed them good and evil.
8
He set his eye upon their hearts, to show them the majesty of his works.
9
(b)
10
And they will praise his holy name, (c) that they may declare the majesty of his works.
11
He added to them knowledge, and gave them a law of life for a heritage.
12
He made an everlasting covenant with them, and showed them his decrees.
13
Their eyes saw the majesty of his glory. Their ears heard the glory of his voice.
14
He said to them, “Beware of all unrighteousness.” So he gave them commandment, each man concerning his neighbor.
15
Their ways are ever before him. They will not be hidden from his eyes.
16
(d)
17
(e)For every nation he appointed a ruler, but Israel is the Lord’s portion.
18
(f)
19
All their works are as clear as the sun before him. His eyes are continually upon their ways.
20
Their iniquities are not hidden from him. All their sins are before the Lord.
21
(g)
22
With him the alms of a man is as a signet. He will keep a man’s kindness as the pupil of the eye.(h)
23
Afterwards he will rise up and repay them, and render their repayment upon their head.
24
However to those who repent he grants a return. He comforts those who are losing hope.
25
Return to the Lord, and forsake sins. Make your prayer before his face offend less.
26
Turn again to the Most High, and turn away from iniquity.(i) Greatly hate the abominable thing.
27
Who will give praise to the Most High in Hades, in place of the living who return thanks?
28
Thanksgiving perishes from the dead, as from one who doesn’t exist. He who is in life and health will praise the Lord.
29
How great is the mercy of the Lord, and his forgiveness to those who turn to him!
30
For humans are not capable of everything, because the son of man is not immortal.
31
What is brighter than the sun? Yet even this can be eclipsed. So flesh and blood devise evil.
32
He looks upon the power of the height of heaven, while all men are earth and ashes.

Footnotes

(a)17:5 Verse 5 is omitted by the best authorities.
(b)17:9 Verse 9 is omitted by the best authorities.
(c)17:10 This line is added by the best authorities.
(d)17:16 Verses 16, 18, and 21 are omitted by the best authorities.
(e)17:17 The preceding part of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.
(f)17:18 Verses 16, 18, and 21 are omitted by the best authorities.
(g)17:21 Verses 16, 18, and 21 are omitted by the best authorities.
(h)17:22 The remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.
(i)17:26 A line is here omitted by the best authorities.
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