Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 17
17
1The Lord created human beings out of earth,
and makes them return to it again.
2He gave them a fixed number of days,
but granted them authority over everything on the earth.#17.2 Lat: Gk it
3He endowed them with strength like his own,#17.3 Lat: Gk proper to them
and made them in his own image.
4He put the fear of them#17.4 Syr: Gk him in all living beings,
and gave them dominion over beasts and birds.#17.4 Other ancient authorities add as verse 5, They obtained the use of the five faculties of the Lord; as sixth he distributed to them the gift of mind, and as seventh, reason, the interpreter of one's faculties.
6Discretion and tongue and eyes,
ears and a mind for thinking he gave them.
7He filled them with knowledge and understanding,
and showed them good and evil.
8He put the fear of him into#17.8 Other ancient authorities read He set his eye upon their hearts
to show them the majesty of his works.#17.8 Other ancient authorities add and he gave them to boast of his marvels forever
10And they will praise his holy name,
9to proclaim the grandeur of his works.
11He bestowed knowledge upon them,
and allotted to them the law of life.#17.11 Other ancient authorities add so that they may know that they who are alive now are mortal
12He established with them an eternal covenant,
and revealed to them his decrees.
13Their eyes saw his glorious majesty,
and their ears heard the glory of his voice.
14He said to them, “Beware of all evil.”
And he gave commandment to each of them concerning the neighbor.
15Their ways are always known to him;
they will not be hid from his eyes.#17.15 Other ancient authorities add 16 Their ways from youth tend toward evil, and they are unable to make for themselves hearts of flesh in place of their stony hearts. For in the division of the nations of the whole earth, he appointed
17He appointed a ruler for every nation,
but Israel is the Lord's own portion.#17.17 Other ancient authorities add as verse 18, whom, being his firstborn, he brings up with discipline, and allotting to him the light of his love, he does not neglect him.
19All their works are as clear as the sun before him,
and his eyes are ever upon their ways.
20Their iniquities are not hidden from him,
and all their sins are before the Lord.#17.20 Other ancient authorities add as verse 21, But the Lord, who is gracious and knows how they are formed, has neither left them nor abandoned them, but has spared them.
22One's almsgiving is like a signet ring with the Lord,#17.22 Gk him
and he will keep a person's kindness like the apple of his eye.#17.22 Other ancient authorities add apportioning repentance to his sons and daughters
23Afterward he will rise up and repay them,
and he will bring their recompense on their heads.
24Yet to those who repent he grants a return,
and he encourages those who are losing hope.
A Call to Repentance
25Turn back to the Lord and forsake your sins;
pray in his presence and lessen your offense.
26Return to the Most High and turn away from iniquity,#17.26 Other ancient authorities add for he will lead you out of darkness to the light of health.
and hate intensely what he abhors.
27Who will sing praises to the Most High in Hades
in place of the living who give thanks?
28From the dead, as from one who does not exist, thanksgiving has ceased;
those who are alive and well sing the Lord's praises.
29How great is the mercy of the Lord,
and his forgiveness for those who return to him!
30For not everything is within human capability,
since human beings are not immortal.
31What is brighter than the sun? Yet it can be eclipsed.
So flesh and blood devise evil.
32He marshals the host of the height of heaven;
but all human beings are dust and ashes.
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Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 17: NRSV-CI
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New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.