Sirach 17

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

17 The Lord created human beings out of earth,
    and makes them return to it again.
² He gave them a fixed number of days,
    but granted them authority over everything on the earth.^[a]
3 He endowed them with strength like his own,^[b]
    and made them in his own image.
⁴ He put the fear of them^[c] in all living beings,
    and gave them dominion over beasts and birds.^[d]
6 Discretion and tongue and eyes,
    ears and a mind for thinking he gave them.
⁷ He filled them with knowledge and understanding,
    and showed them good and evil.
⁸ He put the fear of him into^[e] their hearts
    to show them the majesty of his works.^[f]
10 And they will praise his holy name,
⁹     to proclaim the grandeur of his works.
¹¹ He bestowed knowledge upon them,
    and allotted to them the law of life.^[g]
12 He established with them an eternal covenant,
    and revealed to them his decrees.
¹³ Their eyes saw his glorious majesty,
    and their ears heard the glory of his voice.
¹⁴ He said to them, “Beware of all evil.”
    And he gave commandment to each of them concerning the neighbor.
¹⁵ Their ways are always known to him;
    they will not be hid from his eyes.^[h]
17 He appointed a ruler for every nation,
    but Israel is the Lord’s own portion.^[i]
19 All their works are as clear as the sun before him,
    and his eyes are ever upon their ways.
²⁰ Their iniquities are not hidden from him,
    and all their sins are before the Lord.^[j]
22 One’s almsgiving is like a signet ring with the Lord,^[k]
    and he will keep a person’s kindness like the apple of his eye.^[l]
23 Afterward he will rise up and repay them,
    and he will bring their recompense on their heads.
²⁴ Yet to those who repent he grants a return,
    and he encourages those who are losing hope.