Sirach

Chapter-17

Sirach 17:1 God created man from the earth, and he made him according to his own image.

 

Sirach 17:2 And he returned him again to it, and he clothed him with virtue according to himself.

 

Sirach 17:3 He gave him the number and time of his days, and he gave him authority over all the things that are upon the earth.

 

Sirach 17:4 He placed the fear of him over all flesh, and he had dominion over wild beasts and flying things.

 

Sirach 17:5 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.

 

Sirach 17:6 He created within them the knowledge of the spirit. He filled their heart with understanding, and he showed them both good and evil.

 

Sirach 17:7 He set his eye upon their hearts, to reveal to them the greatness of his works,

 

Sirach 17:8 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.

 

Sirach 17:9 In addition, he gave them discipline and the law of life, as their inheritance.

 

Sirach 17:10 He established an eternal covenant with them, and he revealed to them his justice and judgments.

 

Sirach 17:11 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.”

 

Sirach 17:12 And he commanded each one concerning his neighbor.

 

Sirach 17:13 Their ways are always in his sight; they are not hidden from his eyes.

 

Sirach 17:14 Over each and every people, he has appointed a ruler.

 

Sirach 17:15 And Israel was made to be the manifest portion of God.

 

Sirach 17:16 And in the sight of God, all their works are like the sun. And his eyes, without ceasing, inspect their ways.

 

Sirach 17:17 The covenants are not hidden by their iniquity, and all their iniquities are in the sight of God.

 

Sirach 17:18 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.

 

Sirach 17:19 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.

 

Sirach 17:20 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.

 

Sirach 17:21 Convert to the Lord, and relinquish your sins.

 

Sirach 17:22 Make supplication before the face of the Lord, and diminish your offenses.

 

Sirach 17:23 Return to the Lord, and turn away from your injustice, and have immense hatred for abomination.

 

Sirach 17:24 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.

 

Sirach 17:25 Go to the side of the holy generation, to those who live in order to give praise to God.

 

Sirach 17:26 You should not linger in the error of the impious; confess before death. Confession perishes from the dead as if it were nothing.

 

Sirach 17:27 Confess while living; you should give thanks while you are still alive and healthy. And you should praise God and glory in his compassion.

 

Sirach 17:28 How great is the mercy of the Lord, and his forgiveness, for those who convert to him!

 

Sirach 17:29 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.

 

Sirach 17:30 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.

 

Sirach 17:31 He beholds the power of the heights of heaven. And all men are earth and ashes.