Sirach 17
17
1 #
Gn 1.26-28; 2.7. The Lord created us humans
from the soil,
and he makes us return there
when we die.
2Our lives are short,
but the Lord has given us
power to rule the earth.
3We were made to be like him
and were given power
much like his own.
4He let us rule all animals
and made them afraid of us.
5We were given the five senses
of sight and hearing,
taste, touch, and smell;
and we were also given
the ability to think
and to interpret
what our senses tell us.#17.5 us: Verse 5 is not in some manuscripts.
6He gave us tongues for speaking,
eyes for seeing,
and minds for thinking
and for making choices.
7 #
Gn 2.17. Our minds are filled
with knowledge and Wisdom
that come from the Lord,
and we understand the difference
between right and wrong.
8The Lord made us fear him
so that we would know
his mighty power.
9Now we will tell others
about his powerful deeds
10and praise his holy name.#17.10 name: Most Greek manuscripts place verse 10 before verse 9.
* 11The Lord gave to our ancestors
laws that bring knowledge
and life,
12and his agreement with them
will last forever.
13Our ancestors saw
the glorious power of the Lord
and heard his mighty voice
14warning them about injustice
and commanding them how
to treat each other.
The Lord Is Watching
15The Lord watches us and knows
our every deed.
16Most people do wrong
from an early age
and have a cruel heart
that they cannot change.#17.16 change: Verse 16 is not in some manuscripts.
17The Lord placed rulers
over all the nations,
but he himself rules Israel.
18He raised our people Israel
as his own first-born child,
with loving care,
but also with discipline.
19He can see our actions
as easily as we see the sun.
20That's the reason
we can't hide our sins—
he can see them all.
21But he knows what we are like,
and so he shows mercy
and never deserts us.#17.21 us: Verse 21 is not in some manuscripts.
22The Lord values
our gifts to the poor
as much as we value fine jewelry
or a most prized possession.
23Later, he will punish the wicked
as they deserve,
24but he accepts all those
who turn from sinning,
and he encourages everyone
whose hope is slipping away.
Return to the Lord
25 #
Jr 3.12. Stop sinning and return
to the Lord;
your punishment will be less
if you pray to him.
26So turn back to the Lord
and hate what he hates.
27 #
Ps 6.5; Is 38.18; Ba 2.17,18. Only the living
can thank the Lord—
no one in the world of the dead
can praise him;
28they no longer exist
and cannot offer thanks.
But those who are alive
and healthy
can still sing praises to him.
29The Lord will show great mercy
and forgive all of your sins
if you turn back to him.
30But we cannot live forever;
we are human and find it hard
to turn to God.
31If a thick dark cloud can hide
the bright rays of the sun,
then evil can just as easily
darken our minds.
32We are merely dust and ashes,
but God commands the armies
of the highest heaven.
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Sirach 17: CEVDCI
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.