Sirach 17:1-24

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

17 The Lord created man out of earth,
    and turned him back to it again.
² He gave to men^[a] few days, a limited time,
    but granted them authority over the things upon the earth.^[b]
3 He endowed them with strength like his own,^[c]
    and made them in his own image.
⁴ He placed the fear of them^[d] in all living beings,
    and granted them dominion over beasts and birds.^[e]
6 He made for them^[f] tongue and eyes;
    he gave them ears and a mind for thinking.
⁷ He filled them with knowledge and understanding,
    and showed them good and evil.
⁸ He set his eye upon their hearts
    to show them the majesty of his works.^[g]
10 And they will praise his holy name,
    to proclaim the grandeur of his works.
¹¹ He bestowed knowledge upon them,
    and allotted to them the law of life.
¹² He established with them an eternal covenant,
    and showed them his judgments.
¹³ Their eyes saw his glorious majesty,
    and their ears heard the glory of his voice.
¹⁴ And he said to them, “Beware of all unrighteousness.”^[h]
    And he gave commandment to each of them concerning his neighbor.

¹⁵ Their ways are always before him,
    they will not be hid from his eyes.^[i]
17 He appointed a ruler for every nation,
    but Israel is the Lord’s own portion.^[j]
19 All their works are as the sun before him,
    and his eyes are continually upon their ways.
²⁰ Their iniquities are not hidden from him,
    and all their sins are before the Lord.^[k]
22 A man’s almsgiving is like a signet with the Lord,^[l]
    and he will keep a person’s kindness like the apple of his eye.
²³ Afterward he will arise and requite them,
    and he will bring their recompense on their heads.
²⁴ Yet to those who repent he grants a return,
    and he encourages those whose endurance is failing.