Ecclesiasticus, 17

1. The Lord fashioned human beings from the earth, to consign them back to it.

1. Do not desire a multitude of useless children, nor rejoice in ungodly sons.

2. He gave them so many days and so much time, he gave them authority over everything on earth.

2. If they multiply , do not rejoice in them, unless the fear of the Lord is in them.

3. He clothed them in strength, like himself, and made them in his own image.

3. Do not trust in their survival, and do not rely on their multitude; for one is better than a thousand, and to die childless is better than to have ungodly children.

4. He filled all living things with dread of human beings, making them masters over beasts and birds.

4. For through one man of understanding a city will be filled with people, but through a tribe of lawless men it will be made desolate.

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5. Many such things my eye has seen, and my ear has heard things more striking than these.

6. He made them a tongue, eyes and ears, and gave them a heart to think with.

6. In an assembly of sinners a fire will be kindled, and in a disobedient nation wrath was kindled.

7. He filled them with knowledge and intelligence, and showed them what was good and what evil.

7. He was not propitiated for the ancient giants who revolted in their might.

8. He put his own light in their hearts to show them the magnificence of his works,

8. He did not spare the neighbors of Lot, whom he loathed on account of their insolence.

9.

9. He showed no pity for a nation devoted to destruction, for those destroyed in their sins;

10. so that they would praise his holy name as they told of his magnificent works.

10. nor for the six hundred thousand men on foot, who rebelliously assembled in their stubbornness.

11. He set knowledge before them, he endowed them with the law of life.

11. Even if there is only one stiff-necked person, it will be a wonder if he remains unpunished. For mercy and wrath are with the Lord; he is mighty to forgive, and he pours out wrath.

12. He established an eternal covenant with them, and revealed his judgements to them.

12. As great as his mercy, so great is also his reproof; he judges a man according to his deeds.

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

13. The sinner will not escape with his plunder, and the patience of the godly will not be frustrated.

14. He said to them, 'Beware of all wrong-doing'; he gave each a commandment concerning his neighbour.

14. He will make room for every act of mercy; every one will receive in accordance with his deeds.

15. Their ways are always under his eye, they cannot be hidden from his sight.

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17. Over each nation he has set a governor, but Israel is the Lord's own portion.

17. Do not say, "I shall be hidden from the Lord, and who from on high will remember me? Among so many people I shall not be known, for what is my soul in the boundless creation?

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18. Behold, heaven and the highest heaven, the abyss and the earth, will tremble at his visitation.

19. Their actions are all as plain as the sun to him, and his eyes rest constantly on their conduct.

19. The mountains also and the foundations of the earth shake with trembling when he looks upon them.

20. Their iniquities are not hidden from him, all their sins are before the Lord.

20. And no mind will reflect on this. Who will ponder his ways?

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21. Like a tempest which no man can see, so most of his works are concealed.

22. Almsgiving is like a signet ring to him, he cherishes generosity like the pupil of an eye.

22. Who will announce his acts of justice? Or who will await them? For the covenant is far off."

23. One day he will rise and reward them, he will repay their deserts on their own heads.

23. This is what one devoid of understanding thinks; a senseless and misguided man thinks foolishly.

24. But to those who repent he permits return, and he encourages those who have lost hope.

24. Listen to me, my son, and acquire knowledge, and pay close attention to my words.

25. Return to the Lord and renounce your sins, plead before his face, stop offending him.

25. I will impart instruction by weight, and declare knowledge accurately.

26. Come back to the Most High, turn away from iniquity and hold all that is foul in abhorrence.

26. The works of the Lord have existed from the beginning by his creation, and when he made them, he determined their divisions.

27. Who is going to praise the Most High in Sheol if we do not glorify him while we are alive?

27. He arranged his works in an eternal order, and their dominion for all generations; they neither hunger nor grow weary, and they do not cease from their labors.

28. The dead can praise no more than those who do not exist, only those with life and health can praise the Lord.

28. They do not crowd one another aside, and they will never disobey his word.

29. How great is the mercy of the Lord, his pardon for those who turn to him!

29. After this the Lord looked upon the earth, and filled it with his good things;

30. For we cannot have everything, human beings are not immortal.

30. with all kinds of living beings he covered its surface, and to it they return.

31. What is brighter than the sun? And yet it fades. Flesh and blood think of nothing but evil.

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32. He surveys the armies of the lofty sky, and all of us are only dust and ashes.

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