Ecclesiasticus, 17

1. The Lord created man of the earth, and turned him into it again.

1. The Lord created man from the earth and let him return to earth.

2. He gave them few days, and a short time, and power also over the things therein.

2. He settled a fixed time for them and a set number of days, giving them power over everything on earth.

3. He endued them with strength by themselves, and made them according to his image,

3. He endowed them with a strength like his own, making them in his own image.

4. And put the fear of man upon all flesh, and gave him dominion over beasts and fowls.

4. He put the fear of men in all living things, thus they had mastery over the animals and birds.

5. They received the use of the five operations of the Lord, and in the sixth place he imparted them understanding, and in the seventh speech, an interpreter of the cogitations thereof.]

5.

6. Counsel, and a tongue, and eyes, ears, and a heart, gave he them to understand.

6. He endowed them with knowledge; he gave them tongue and eyes, ears and a mind to think with.

7. Withal he filled them with the knowledge of understanding, and shewed them good and evil.

7. He filled them with wisdom and knowledge; he taught them good and evil.

8. He set his eye upon their hearts, that he might shew them the greatness of his works.

8. He put his own eye in their hearts so they would understand the greatness of his works.

9. He gave them to glory in his marvellous acts for ever, that they might declare his works with understanding.

9.

10. And the elect shall praise his holy name.

10. They will praise his holy Name and relate the magnificence of his creation.

11. Beside this he gave them knowledge, and the law of life for an heritage.

11. He gave them revealed knowledge as well and handed over to them the Law of life.

12. He made an everlasting covenant with them, and shewed them his judgments.

12. He established an everlasting covenant with them and let them know his judgments.

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

13. Human eyes saw the splendor of the Glory of God; their ears heard the grandeur of his voice.

14. And he said unto them, Beware of all unrighteousness; and he gave every man commandment concerning his neighbour.

14. He said to them, "Keep yourselves from all wrongdoing," and to each of them he gave commands regarding his neighbor.

15. Their ways are ever before him, and shall not be hid from his eyes.

15. Their conduct is always before the Lord; they cannot escape his sight.

16. Every man from his youth is given to evil; neither could they make to themselves fleshy hearts for stony.

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17. For in the division of the nations of the whole earth he set a ruler over every people; but Israel is the Lord's portion:

17. He has placed a leader over each nation, but Israel is the Lord's own portion.

18. Whom, being his firstborn, he nourisheth with discipline, and giving him the light of his love doth not forsake him.

18.

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

19. Their deeds are as clear as the sun to him, he always observes their ways.

20. None of their unrighteous deeds are hid from him, but all their sins are before the Lord

20. Their misdeeds cannot be hidden from him, all their sins are before the Lord.

21. But the Lord being gracious and knowing his workmanship, neither left nor forsook them, but spared them.

21.

22. The alms of a man is as a signet with him, and he will keep the good deeds of man as the apple of the eye, and give repentance to his sons and daughters.

22. He holds a man's almsgiving dear as a priceless signet ring; he cherishes a good deed like the apple of his eye.

23. Afterwards he will rise up and reward them, and render their recompence upon their heads.

23. One day he will rise and reward them; he will place their prize on their heads.

24. But unto them that repent, he granted them return, and comforted those that failed in patience.

24. He allows those who repent to return; he comforts those whose hopes are fading.

25. Return unto the Lord, and forsake thy sins, make thy prayer before his face, and offend less.

25. Be converted to the Lord and give up your sins, plead with him to lessen your offense.

26. Turn again to the most High, and turn away from iniquity: for he will lead thee out of darkness into the light of health, and hate thou abomination vehemently.

26. Return to the Almighty, turn aside from wrongdoing and totally detest evil.

27. Who shall praise the most High in the grave, instead of them which live and give thanks?

27. For who in the grave will praise the Almighty, if the living do not give him glory?

28. Thanksgiving perisheth from the dead, as from one that is not: the living and sound in heart shall praise the Lord.

28. The dead man is as if he did not exist and cannot give praise; he who has life and health can praise the Lord.

29. How great is the lovingkindness of the Lord our God, and his compassion unto such as turn unto him in holiness!

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, because the son of man is not immortal.

30. Man cannot have everything in his power since he is not immortal.

31. What is brighter than the sun? yet the light thereof faileth; and flesh and blood will imagine evil.

31. What is brighter than the sun? Yet it disappears. Man is no more than flesh and blood, yet he thinks of doing evil.

32. He vieweth the power of the height of heaven; and all men are but earth and ashes.

32. While the sun surveys the stars in the lofty sky, all men remain dust and ashes.