Sirach 17–20: The Mercy of the Lord Is on All Flesh": Creation, Repentance, and the Tongue
Scripture: World English Bible
The Lord created mankind out of earth,and turned them back to it again.He gave them days by number, and a set time,and gave them authority over the things that are on it.He endowed them with strength proper to them,and made them according to his own image.He put the fear of man upon all flesh,and gave him dominion over beasts and birds.He gave them counsel, tongue, eyes,ears, and heart to have understanding.He filled them with the knowledge of wisdom,and showed them good and evil.He set his eye upon their hearts,to show them the majesty of his works.And they will praise his holy name,that they may declare the majesty of his works.He added to them knowledge,and gave them a law of life for a heritage.He made an everlasting covenant with them,and showed them his decrees.Their eyes saw the majesty of his glory.Their ears heard the glory of his voice.He said to them, “Beware of all unrighteousness.”So he gave them commandment, each man concerning his neighbor.
Their ways are ever before him.They will not be hidden from his eyes.For every nation he appointed a ruler,but Israel is the Lord’s portion.All their works are as clear as the sun before him.His eyes are continually upon their ways.Their iniquities are not hidden from him.All their sins are before the Lord.With him the alms of a man is as a signet.He will keep a man’s kindness as the pupil of the eye.Afterwards he will rise up and repay them,and give their repayment upon their head.However to those who repent he grants a return.He comforts those who are losing hope.
Return to the Lord, and forsake sins.Make your prayer before his face offend less.Turn again to the Most High, and turn away from iniquity.Greatly hate the abominable thing.Who will give praise to the Most High in Hades,in place of the living who return thanks?Thanksgiving perishes from the dead, as from one who doesn’t exist.He who is in life and health will praise the Lord.How great is the mercy of the Lord,and his forgiveness to those who turn to him!For humans are not capable of everything,because the son of man is not immortal.What is brighter than the sun? Yet even this can be eclipsed.So flesh and blood devise evil.He looks upon the power of the height of heaven,while all men are earth and ashes.
He who lives forever created the whole universe.The Lord alone is just.He has given power to declare his works to no one.Who could trace out his mighty deeds?Who could measure the strength of his majesty?Who could also proclaim his mercies?As for the wondrous works of the Lord, it is not possible to take from them nor add to them,neither is it possible to explore them.When a man has finished, then he is just at the beginning.When he stops, then he will be perplexed.What is mankind, and what purpose do they serve?What is their good, and what is their evil?The number of man’s days at the most are a hundred years.As a drop of water from the sea, and a pebble from the sand,so are a few years in the day of eternity.For this cause the Lord was patient over them,and poured out his mercy upon them.He saw and perceived their end, that it is evil.Therefore he multiplied his forgiveness.The mercy of a man is on his neighbor;but the mercy of the Lord is on all flesh:reproving, chastening, teaching,and bringing back, as a shepherd does his flock.He has mercy on those who accept chastening,and that diligently seek after his judgments.
My son, don’t add reproach to your good deeds,and no harsh words in any of your giving.Doesn’t the dew relieve the scorching heat?So a word is better than a gift.Behold, isn’t a word better than a gift?Both are with a gracious person.A fool is ungracious and abusive.The gift of a grudging person consumes the eyes.
Learn before you speak.Take care of your health before you get sick.Before judgment, examine yourself,and in the hour of scrutiny you will find forgiveness.Humble yourself before you get sick.In the time of sins, repent.Let nothing hinder you to pay your vow in due time.Don’t wait until death to be released.Before you make a vow, prepare yourself.Don’t be like a man who tests the Lord.Think about the wrath coming in the days of the end,and the time of vengeance, when he turns away his face.In the days of fullness remember the time of hunger.Remember poverty and lack in the days of wealth.From morning until evening, the time changes.All things are speedy before the Lord.A wise man is cautious in everything.In days of sinning, he will beware of offense.Every man of understanding knows wisdom.He will give thanks to him who found her.They who were of understanding in sayings also became wise themselves,and poured out apt proverbs.
Don’t go after your lusts.Restrain your appetites.If you give fully to your soul the delight of her desire,she will make you the laughing stock of your enemies.Don’t make merry in much luxury,and don’t be tied to its expense.Don’t be made a beggar by banqueting with borrowed moneywhen you have nothing in your purse.
A worker who is a drunkard will not become rich.He who despises small things will fall little by little.Wine and women will make men of understanding go astray.He who joins with prostitutes is reckless.Decay and worms will have him as their heritage.A reckless soul will be taken away.
He who is hasty to trust is shallow-hearted.He who sins offends against his own soul.He who rejoices in wickedness will be condemned.He who hates gossip has less wickedness.Never repeat what is told you,and you won’t lose anything.Whether it is of friend or foe, don’t tell it.Unless it is a sin to you, don’t reveal it.For if he has heard you and observed you,when the time comes, he will hate you.Have you heard something? Let it die with you.Be brave: it will not make you burst!A fool will travail in pain with a word,as a woman in labor with a child.As an arrow that sticks in the flesh of the thigh,so is gossip in a fool.
Question a friend; it may be he didn’t do it.If he did something, it may be that he may do it no more.Question your neighbor; it may be he didn’t say it.If he has said it, it may be that he may not say it again.Question a friend; for many times there is slander.Don’t trust every word.There is one who slips, and not from the heart.Who is he who hasn’t sinned with his tongue?Reprove your neighbor before you threaten him;and give place to the law of the Most High.
All wisdom is the fear of the Lord.In all wisdom is the doing of the law.The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom.The prudence of sinners is not counsel.There is a wickedness, and it is an abomination.There is a fool lacking in wisdom.Better is one who has little understanding, and fears God,than one who has much intelligence and transgresses the law.There is an exquisite subtlety, and it is unjust.And there is one who perverts favor to gain a judgment.There is one who does wickedly, who hangs down his head with mourning;but inwardly he is full of deceit,bowing down his face, and pretending to be deaf in one ear.Where he isn’t known, he will take advantage of you.And if for lack of power he is hindered from sinning,if he finds opportunity, he will do mischief.A man will be known by his appearance.One who has understanding will be known by his face when you meet him.A man’s attire, grinning laughter,and the way he walks show what he is.
There is a reproof that is not timely;and there is a person who is wise enough to keep silent.How good is it to reprove, rather than to be angry.He who confesses will be kept back from harm.As is the lust of a eunuch to deflower a virgin,so is he who executes judgments with violence.There is one who keeps silent and is found wise;and there is one who is hated for his much talk.There is one who keeps silent, for he has no answer to make;And there is one who keeps silent, knowing when to speak.A wise man will be silent until his time has come,but the braggart and fool will miss his time.He who uses many words will be abhorred.He who takes authority for himself will be hated in it.
There is a prosperity that a man finds in misfortunes;and there is a gain that turns to loss.There is a gift that will not profit you;and there is a gift that pays back double.There are losses because of glory;and there is one who has lifted up his head from a low estate.There is one who buys much for a little,and pays for it again sevenfold.He who is wise in words will make himself beloved;but the pleasantries of fools will be wasted.The gift of a fool will not profit you,for he looks for repayment many times instead of one.He will give little and insult much.He will open his mouth like a crier.Today he will lend, and tomorrow he will ask for it back.Such a one is a hateful man.The fool will say, “I have no friend,and I have no thanks for my good deeds.Those who eat my bread have an evil tongue.”How often, and of how many, will he be laughed to scorn!
A slip on a pavement is better than a slip with the tongue.So the fall of the wicked will come speedily.A man without grace is a tale out of season.It will be continually in the mouth of the ignorant.A parable from a fool’s mouth will be rejected;for he won’t tell it at the proper time.
There is one who is hindered from sinning through lack.When he rests, he will not be troubled.There is one who destroys his soul through bashfulness.By a foolish countenance, he will destroy it.There is one who for bashfulness makes promises to his friend;and he makes him his enemy for nothing.
A lie is an ugly blot on a person.It will be continually in the mouth of the ignorant.A thief is better than a man who is continually lying,but they both will inherit destruction.The destination of a liar is dishonor.His shame is with him continually.
He who is wise in words will advance himself.And one who is prudent will please great men.He who tills his land will raise his harvest high.He who pleases great men will get pardon for iniquity.Favors and gifts blind the eyes of the wise,and as a muzzle on the mouth, turn away reproofs.Wisdom that is hidden, and treasure that is out of sight—what profit is in either of them?Better is a man who hides his follythan a man who hides his wisdom.