1  If you do good, know to whom you do it, and there will be many thanks for your good deeds.

1  When thou wilt do good know to whom thou doest it; so shalt thou be thanked for thy benefits.

2  Do good to the just, and you will find great recompense, and if not from him, certainly from the Lord.

3  For there is no good for someone who is always occupied in evil, or who does not give alms. For the Most High holds hatred for sinners, but he takes pity on the repentant.

3  There can no good come to him that is always occupied in evil, nor to him that giveth no alms.

4  Give to the merciful, and you should not assist the sinner. For the impious and the sinner will be repaid with the vengeance being held for them on the day of retribution.

4  Give to the godly man, and help not a sinner.

5  Give to the good, but you should not receive from a sinner.

5  Do well unto him that is lowly, but give not to the ungodly: hold back thy bread, and give it not unto him, lest he overmaster thee thereby: for else thou shalt receive twice as much evil for all the good thou shalt have done unto him.

6  Do good to the humble, but you should not give to the impious; withhold your bread, do not give it to him, otherwise he may overpower you with it.

6  For the most High hateth sinners, and will repay vengeance unto the ungodly, and keepeth them against the mighty day of their punishment.

7  For you will find twice the evil for all the good you will have done to him. For the Most High also holds hatred for sinners, and he will repay vengeance to the impious.

7  Give unto the good, and help not the sinner.

8  A friend will not be known in good times, and an enemy will not be hidden in adversity.

8  A friend cannot be known in prosperity: and an enemy cannot be hidden in adversity.

9  By the good fortune of a man, his enemies are grieved; and by his misfortune, a friend is revealed.

9  In the prosperity of a man enemies will be grieved: but in his adversity even a friend will depart.

10  You should never trust your enemy. For his wickedness rusts like a brass pot.

10  Never trust thine enemy: for like as iron rusteth, so is his wickedness.

11  And if he humbles himself and goes about bowed down, increase your alertness and guard yourself from him.

11  Though he humble himself, and go crouching, yet take good heed and beware of him, and thou shalt be unto him as if thou hadst wiped a lookingglass, and thou shalt know that his rust hath not been altogether wiped away.

12  You should not sit down anywhere near him, nor should you allow him to sit at your right hand, lest perhaps he may turn toward your place, and seek your seat, and then, in the very end, you would understand my words and be stung by my sermon.

12  Set him not by thee, lest, when he hath overthrown thee, he stand up in thy place; neither let him sit at thy right hand, lest he seek to take thy seat, and thou at the last remember my words, and be pricked therewith.

13  Who will take pity on an enchanter struck by a serpent, or on someone who draws near to wild beasts? And so it is with one who keeps company with an iniquitous man and is involved in his sins.

13  Who will pity a charmer that is bitten with a serpent, or any such as come nigh wild beasts?

14  So one that goeth to a sinner, and is defiled with him in his sins, who will pity?

14  For one hour, he will abide with you. But if you begin to turn aside, he will not permit it.

Sir12:15  For a while he will abide with thee, but if thou begin to fall, he will not tarry.

15  An enemy speaks sweetly with his lips, but in his heart, he waits in ambush, so that he may throw you into a pit.

Sir12:16  An enemy speaketh sweetly with his lips, but in his heart he imagineth how to throw thee into a pit: he will weep with his eyes, but if he find opportunity, he will not be satisfied with blood.

16  An enemy has tears in his eyes. But if he finds an opportunity, he will not be satisfied with blood.

17  And if misfortunes happen upon you, you will find him there first.

18  An enemy has tears in his eyes, but while pretending to help you, he will dig under your feet.

Sir12:19  If adversity come upon thee, thou shalt find him there first; and though he pretend to help thee, yet shall he undermine thee.

19  He will shake his head, and clap his hands, and whisper much, and change his expression.

13:1  Whoever touches pitch will be contaminated by it. And whoever associates with the arrogant will be clothed by arrogance.

1  He that toucheth pitch shall be defiled therewith; and he that hath fellowship with a proud man shall be like unto him.

13:2  Whoever associates with those more honorable than himself sets a burden on himself. And so, you should have no fellowship with someone who is wealthier than you.

2  Burden not thyself above thy power while thou livest; and have no fellowship with one that is mightier and richer than thyself: for how agree the kettle and the earthen pot together? for if the one be smitten against the other, it shall be broken.

13:3  What will the cooking pot have in common with the earthen vessel? And when they collide with one another, one will be broken.

13:4  The rich man has suffered no injustice, and yet he fumes. But the poor man, though he has been wounded, will remain silent.

Sir13:3  The rich man hath done wrong, and yet he threateneth withal: the poor is wronged, and he must intreat also.

13:5  If you are generous, he will take you up; and when you have nothing, he will cast you aside.

Sir13:4  If thou be for his profit, he will use thee: but if thou have nothing, he will forsake thee.

13:6  If you possess, he will feast with you, and he will empty you, and he will not grieve over you.

Sir13:5  If thou have any thing, he will live with thee: yea, he will make thee bare, and will not be sorry for it.

13:7  If he has need of you, he will deceive you; and while smiling, he will give you hope. He will converse with you pleasantly, and he will say: “What is it that you need?”

Sir13:6  If he have need of thee, he will deceive thee, and smile upon thee, and put thee in hope; he will speak thee fair, and say, What wantest thou?

13:8  And he will impress you with his foods, until he has drained you two or three times, and in the very end, he will ridicule you. And afterward, when he sees you, he will abandon you, and he will shake his head at you.

Sir13:7  And he will shame thee by his meats, until he have drawn thee dry twice or thrice, and at the last he will laugh thee to scorn afterward, when he seeth thee, he will forsake thee, and shake his head at thee.

13:9  Humble yourself before God, and wait for his hands.

13:10  Be careful. Otherwise, having been seduced into foolishness, you will be humiliated.

Sir13:8  Beware that thou be not deceived and brought down in thy jollity.

13:11  Do not choose to be low in your wisdom, otherwise, having been brought low, you will be seduced into foolishness.

13:12  If you are invited by someone who is more powerful than you, you should decline. Otherwise, he will invite you all the more.

Sir13:9  If thou be invited of a mighty man, withdraw thyself, and so much the more will he invite thee.

13:13  You cannot be rude to him, lest you be pushed away. And you cannot stray far from him, lest you be forgotten.

Sir13:10  Press thou not upon him, lest thou be put back; stand not far off, lest thou be forgotten.

13:14  You cannot hold a discussion with him as with an equal. You should not trust his many words. For by much talking, he will probe you, and while smiling, he will question you about your secrets.

Sir13:11  Affect not to be made equal unto him in talk, and believe not his many words: for with much communication will he tempt thee, and smiling upon thee will get out thy secrets

13:15  His cruel mind will store up your words; and he will not spare you from affliction, nor from prison.

Sir13:12  But cruelly he will lay up thy words, and will not spare to do thee hurt, and to put thee in prison.

13:16  Be cautious of yourself, and attend diligently to what you are hearing. For you are walking toward your own destruction.

Sir13:13  Observe, and take good heed, for thou walkest in peril of thy overthrowing: when thou hearest these things, awake in thy sleep.

13:17  Yet truly, while listening to these things, consider it as if it were a dream, and you will awaken.

13:18  Love God for your entire life, and call upon him for your salvation.

Sir13:14  Love the Lord all thy life, and call upon him for thy salvation.

13:19  Every animal loves its own kind; so also every man loves those closest to himself.

Sir13:15  Every beast loveth his like, and every man loveth his neighbour.

13:20  All flesh will join with whatever is similar to itself, and every man will associate with whomever is similar to himself.

Sir13:16  All flesh consorteth according to kind, and a man will cleave to his like.

13:21  If a wolf would at any time have fellowship with a lamb, so also would a sinner have fellowship with the just.

Sir13:17  What fellowship hath the wolf with the lamb? so the sinner with the godly.

13:22  What fellowship does a holy man have with a dog? Or what portion do the wealthy have with the poor?

Sir13:18  What agreement is there between the hyena and a dog? and what peace between the rich and the poor?

13:23  In the desert, the wild donkey is the prey of the lion. So also are the poor the pasture of the rich.

Sir13:19  As the wild ass is the lion’s prey in the wilderness: so the rich eat up the poor.

13:24  And just as humility is an abomination to the arrogant, so also does the rich man abhor the poor man.

Sir13:20  As the proud hate humility: so doth the rich abhor the poor.

13:25  When a wealthy man has been shaken, he is strengthened by his friends. But when a lowly man has fallen, he is expelled even by those who know him well.

Sir13:21  A rich man beginning to fall is held up of his friends: but a poor man being down is thrust away by his friends.

13:26  When a rich man has been deceived, many will help him recover; he has spoken arrogantly, and yet they justify him.

Sir13:22  When a rich man is fallen, he hath many helpers: he speaketh things not to be spoken, and yet men justify him: the poor man slipped, and yet they rebuked him too; he spake wisely, and could have no place.

13:27  When a poor man has been deceived, in addition he is rebuked; he has spoken with understanding, and no place is given to him.

13:28  The rich man has spoken, and all remain silent, and they repeat his words, even to the clouds.

Sir13:23  When a rich man speaketh, every man holdeth his tongue, and, look, what he saith, they extol it to the clouds: but if the poor man speak, they say, What fellow is this? and if he stumble, they will help to overthrow him.

13:29  The poor man has spoken, and they say: “Who is this?” And if he stumbles, they will overthrow him.

13:30  Substance is good for him who has no sin on his conscience. And poverty is called very wicked by the mouth of the impious.

Sir13:24  Riches are good unto him that hath no sin, and poverty is evil in the mouth of the ungodly.

13:31  The heart of a man changes his face, either for better or for worse.

Sir13:25  The heart of a man changeth his countenance, whether it be for good or evil: and a merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance.

13:32  You will find, with difficulty and much labor, the sign of a good heart and a good face.

Sir13:26  A cheerful countenance is a token of a heart that is in prosperity; and the finding out of parables is a wearisome labour of the mind.

14:1  Blessed is the man who has not slipped because of a word from his mouth, and who has not been stung by grief because of an offense.

1  Blessed is the man that hath not slipped with his mouth, and is not pricked with the multitude of sins.

14:2  Happy is he who does not have sadness in his mind, and who has not fallen away from his hope.

2  Blessed is he whose conscience hath not condemned him, and who is not fallen from his hope in the Lord.

14:3  Substance is senseless for a greedy and stingy man. And what would a spiteful man do with gold?

3  Riches are not comely for a niggard: and what should an envious man do with money?

14:4  Whoever acquires unjustly, according to his own mind, gathers for others. For another will spend his goods lavishly.

4  He that gathereth by defrauding his own soul gathereth for others, that shall spend his goods riotously.

14:5  Whoever is wicked to himself, to whom will he be good? For he will not take enjoyment in his own goods.

5  He that is evil to himself, to whom will he be good? he shall not take pleasure in his goods.

14:6  Whoever has ill will toward himself, nothing is more worthless than he is. But such is the reward of his wickedness.

6  There is none worse than he that envieth himself; and this is a recompence of his wickedness.

14:7  And if he does good, he does it ignorantly and unwillingly. And in the very end, he realizes his own malice.

7  And if he doeth good, he doeth it unwillingly; and at the last he will declare his wickedness.

14:8  The eye of the spiteful man is wicked, and he averts his face and despises his own soul.

8  The envious man hath a wicked eye; he turneth away his face, and despiseth men.

14:9  The eye of the greedy man is insatiable in his portion of iniquity. He will not be satisfied until he has consumed his own soul, withering it away.

9  A covetous man’s eye is not satisfied with his portion; and the iniquity of the wicked drieth up his soul.

14:10  An evil eye is directed at evil things. And he will not be satisfied by bread; instead, he will be needy and grieving at his own table.

10  A wicked eye envieth his bread, and he is a niggard at his table.

14:11  Son, if you have anything, do good to yourself, and offer worthy oblations to God.

11  My son, according to thy ability do good to thyself, and give the Lord his due offering.

14:12  Remember that death has not been delayed, and that the covenant of the grave has been revealed to you. For the covenant of this world will pass away in death.

12  Remember that death will not be long in coming, and that the covenant of the grave is not shewed unto thee.

14:13  Do good to your friend before you die. And according to your ability, extend your hand and give to the poor.

13  Do good unto thy friend before thou die, and according to thy ability stretch out thy hand and give to him.

14:14  Do not cheat yourself out of a good day, and do not let the smallest good gift pass you by.

14  Defraud not thyself of the good day, and let not the part of a good desire overpass thee.

14:15  Should you not leave it to others to divide your sorrows and labors by lot?

15  Shalt thou not leave thy travails unto another? and thy labours to be divided by lot?

14:16  Give, and receive, and justify your soul.

16  Give, and take, and sanctify thy soul; for there is no seeking of dainties in the grave.

14:17  Before your passing, accomplish justice. For in death, there is no food to be found.

17  All flesh waxeth old as a garment: for the covenant from the beginning is, Thou shalt die the death.

14:18  All flesh grows old like the grass, and like the foliage that springs forth from a green tree.

18  As of the green leaves on a thick tree, some fall, and some grow; so is the generation of flesh and blood, one cometh to an end, and another is born.

14:19  Some spring up, and others fall away. Such is the generation of flesh and blood. One is finished, and another is born.

19  Every work rotteth and consumeth away, and the worker thereof shall go withal.

14:20  Every corruptible work will fail in the end. And its worker will go with it.

20  Blessed is the man that doth meditate good things in wisdom, and that reasoneth of holy things by his understanding.

14:21  But every excellent work will be justified. And whoever worked it will be honored by it.

21  He that considereth her ways in his heart shall also have understanding in her secrets.

14:22  Blessed is the man who will abide in wisdom, and who will meditate on her righteousness, and who, in his mind, will consider the circumspection of God.

22  Go after her as one that traceth, and lie in wait in her ways.

14:23  He considers her ways in his heart, and he finds understanding in her secrets. He goes after her like an investigator, and he is constant in her ways.

23  He that prieth in at her windows shall also hearken at her doors.

14:24  He gazes through her windows, and he listens at her door.

24  He that doth lodge near her house shall also fasten a pin in her walls.

14:25  He rests next to her house, and, fastening a peg in her walls, he sets up his cottage by her hands. And so, good things will find rest in his cottage as time passes.

25  He shall pitch his tent nigh unto her, and shall lodge in a lodging where good things are.

14:26  He will station his sons under her covering, and he will abide under her branches.

26  He shall set his children under her shelter, and shall lodge under her branches.

14:27  He will be protected by her covering from the heat, and he will rest in her glory.

27  By her he shall be covered from heat, and in her glory shall he dwell.

15:1  Whoever fears God will do good. And whoever holds to justice will obtain it.

1  He that feareth the Lord will do good, and he that hath the knowledge of the law shall obtain her.

15:2  And like an honorable mother, she will meet him, and like a virgin bride, she will receive him.

2  And as a mother shall she meet him, and receive him as a wife married of a virgin.

15:3  She will feed him with the bread of life and understanding. And she give him to drink from the water of salvific wisdom. And she will be confirmed in him, and he will not waver.

3  With the bread of understanding shall she feed him, and give him the water of wisdom to drink.

15:4  And she will hold to him, and he will not be confounded. And she will exalt him, along with those closest to him.

4  He shall be stayed upon her, and shall not be moved; and shall rely upon her, and shall not be confounded.

15:5  And in the midst of the Church, she will open his mouth, and she will fill him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding, and she will clothe him with a robe of glory.

5  She shall exalt him above his neighbours, and in the midst of the congregation shall she open his mouth.

15:6  She will store up in him a treasure of rejoicing and exultation, and she will cause him to inherit an everlasting name.

6  He shall find joy and a crown of gladness, and she shall cause him to inherit an everlasting name.

15:7  But foolish men will not take hold of her. And though understanding men will meet her, foolish men will not catch sight of her. For she is far from arrogance and deceit.

7  But foolish men shall not attain unto her, and sinners shall not see her.

15:8  Lying men will be wary of her. But men who speak the truth will be found with her, and they will have success, even when examined by God.

8  For she is far from pride, and men that are liars cannot remember her.

15:9  Praise is not beautiful in the mouth of a sinner.

9  Praise is not seemly in the mouth of a sinner, for it was not sent him of the Lord.

15:10  For wisdom was sent from God. And praise will stand before the wisdom of God, and praise will abound in the mouths of the faithful, and the sovereign Lord will give praise to wisdom.

10  For praise shall be uttered in wisdom, and the Lord will prosper it.

15:11  You should not say: “It is because of God that wisdom is absent.” For you should not do what he detests.

11  Say not thou, It is through the Lord that I fell away: for thou oughtest not to do the things that he hateth.

15:12  You should not say: “He has led me astray.” For the impious are of no use to him.

12  Say not thou, He hath caused me to err: for he hath no need of the sinful man.

15:13  The Lord hates all abominable error, and those who fear him will not love such things.

13  The Lord hateth all abomination; and they that fear God love it not.

15:14  God established man from the beginning, and he left him in the hand of his own counsel.

15:15  He added his commandments and precepts.

15:16  If you choose to keep the commandments, and if, having chosen them, you fulfill them with perpetual fidelity, they will preserve you.

Sir15:15  If thou wilt, to keep the commandments, and to perform acceptable faithfulness.

15:17  He has set water and fire before you. Extend your hand to whichever one you would choose.

Sir15:16  He hath set fire and water before thee: stretch forth thy hand unto whether thou wilt.

15:18  Before man is life and death, good and evil. Whichever one he chooses will be given to him.

15:19  For the wisdom of God is manifold. And he is strong in power, seeing all things without ceasing.

Sir15:18  For the wisdom of the Lord is great, and he is mighty in power, and beholdeth all things

15:20  The eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear him, and he knows each one of the works of man.

Sir15:19  And his eyes are upon them that fear him, and he knoweth every work of man.

15:21  He has commanded no one to act impiously, and he has given no one permission to sin.

Sir15:20  He hath commanded no man to do wickedly, neither hath he given any man licence to sin.

15:22  For he does not desire a multitude of unfaithful and useless sons.

16:1  You should not rejoice in impious children, if they are successful; nor should you take delight in them, if the fear of God is not in them.

1  Desire not a multitude of unprofitable children, neither delight in ungodly sons.

16:2  You should not approve of their life, nor should you look with favor on their labors.

2  Though they multiply, rejoice not in them, except the fear of the Lord be with them.

16:3  For one child who fears God is better than one thousand impious children.

3  Trust not thou in their life, neither respect their multitude: for one that is just is better than a thousand; and better it is to die without children, than to have them that are ungodly.

16:4  And it is better to die without children, than to leave behind impious children.

4  For by one that hath understanding shall the city be replenished: but the kindred of the wicked shall speedily become desolate.

16:5  By means one person with understanding, a country will be inhabited. The tribe of the impious will become desolate.

5  Many such things have I seen with mine eyes, and mine ear hath heard greater things than these.

16:6  Many such things my eyes have seen, and greater things than these my ear has heard.

6  In the congregation of the ungodly shall a fire be kindled; and in a rebellious nation wrath is set on fire.

16:7  In the synagogue of sinners, a fire will blaze forth; and amid an unbelieving people, wrath will flare up.

7  He was not pacified toward the old giants, who fell away in the strength of their foolishness.

16:8  The giants of antiquity did not obtain pardon for their sins; they were destroyed by trusting in their own abilities.

8  Neither spared he the place where Lot sojourned, but abhorred them for their pride.

16:9  And he did not spare the place of Lot’s sojourn, and he abhorred them because of the arrogance of their words.

9  He pitied not the people of perdition, who were taken away in their sins

16:10  He did not take pity on them, destroying an entire people, who even extolled themselves concerning their sins.

10  Nor the six hundred thousand footmen, who were gathered together in the hardness of their hearts.

16:11  And this was so with six hundred thousand men, who were gathered together in the hardness of their hearts. And if even a single obstinate person had escaped unpunished, it would be a wonder.

11  And if there be one stiffnecked among the people, it is marvel if he escape unpunished: for mercy and wrath are with him; he is mighty to forgive, and to pour out displeasure.

16:12  For mercy and wrath are with him. He is powerful in forgiveness, and he pours forth wrath.

12  As his mercy is great, so is his correction also: he judgeth a man according to his works

16:13  As is his mercy, so also is his correction; he judges a man according to his works.

13  The sinner shall not escape with his spoils: and the patience of the godly shall not be frustrate.

16:14  The sinner, in his violations, will not escape; but the patience of the One who shows mercy will not be diminished.

14  Make way for every work of mercy: for every man shall find according to his works.

16:15  Every mercy will make a place for each man, according to the merit of his works, and according to the understanding of his sojourn.

15  The Lord hardened Pharaoh, that he should not know him, that his powerful works might be known to the world.

16:16  You should not say: “I am hidden from God,” or, “Who, from on high, will take note of me?”

16  His mercy is manifest to every creature; and he hath separated his light from the darkness with an adamant.

16:17  or, “Among a great number of people, I will not be noticed. For what is my soul amid such an immense creation?”

17  Say not thou, I will hide myself from the Lord: shall any remember me from above? I shall not be remembered among so many people: for what is my soul among such an infinite number of creatures?

16:18  Behold: the heavens, and the heaven of the heavens, the abyss, and the entire earth, and the things that are within these, will be shaken by his gaze,

18  Behold, the heaven, and the heaven of heavens, the deep, and the earth, and all that therein is, shall be moved when he shall visit.

16:19  together with mountains and hills, and the foundations of the earth. When God casts his gaze upon them, they will be struck with trembling.

19  The mountains also and foundations of the earth be shaken with trembling, when the Lord looketh upon them.

16:20  And concerning all these things, the heart is without understanding; but every heart is understood by him.

20  No heart can think upon these things worthily: and who is able to conceive his ways?

16:21  And who will understand his ways, or the tempest, which no eye of man will see?

21  It is a tempest which no man can see: for the most part of his works are hid.

16:22  For many of his works are concealed. But who will announce the works of his justice? Or who will endure them? For the testament is far from some persons, and the examination of each thing is in its end.

22  Who can declare the works of his justice? or who can endure them? for his covenant is afar off, and the trial of all things is in the end.

16:23  Whoever diminishes the heart, thinks empty thoughts. For the imprudent and erring man thinks up foolishness.

23  He that wanteth understanding will think upon vain things: and a foolish man erring imagineth follies.

16:24  Listen to me, son, and learn the discipline of understanding, and attend to my words in your heart.

24  My son, hearken unto me, and learn knowledge, and mark my words with thy heart.

16:25  And I will speak with equity about discipline, and I will strive to announce wisdom. So attend to my words in your heart, and I will speak with equity of spirit, about the virtues that God has set within his works from the beginning, and I will announce his knowledge in truth.

25  I will shew forth doctrine in weight, and declare his knowledge exactly.

16:26  With the judgment of God, his works have been done from the beginning; and from their institution, he himself distinguished their parts and set their beginnings, in their kinds.

26  The works of the Lord are done in judgement from the beginning: and from the time he made them he disposed the parts thereof.

16:27  He has beautified their works unto eternity. They have neither hungered, nor labored, and they have not ceased from their works.

27  He garnished his works for ever, and in his hand are the chief of them unto all generations: they neither labour, nor are weary, nor cease from their works.

16:28  Neither will any one of them cause anguish to his neighbor, forever.

28  None of them hindereth another, and they shall never disobey his word.

16:29  You should not be incredulous at his word.

16:30  Afterward, God looked with favor upon the earth, and he filled it with his goodness.

Sir16:29  After this the Lord looked upon the earth, and filled it with his blessings.

16:31  The soul of every living thing brought word from before his face, and their return again is to him.

Sir16:30  With all manner of living things hath he covered the face thereof; and they shall return into it again.

17:1  God created man from the earth, and he made him according to his own image.

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

17:2  And he returned him again to it, and he clothed him with virtue according to himself.

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

17:3  He gave him the number and time of his days, and he gave him authority over all the things that are upon the earth.

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

17:4  He placed the fear of him over all flesh, and he had dominion over wild beasts and flying things.

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

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.

17:5  He created from him a helper, similar to himself. He gave them counsel, and language, and sight, and hearing, and a heart, in order to think. And he filled them with the discipline of understanding.

Sir17:6  Counsel, and a tongue, and eyes, ears, and a heart, gave he them to understand.

17:6  He created within them the knowledge of the spirit. He filled their heart with understanding, and he showed them both good and evil.

Sir17:7  Withal he filled them with the knowledge of understanding, and shewed them good and evil.

17:7  He set his eye upon their hearts, to reveal to them the greatness of his works,

17:8  so that they might highly praise the name of sanctification, and give glory to his wonders, so that they might declare the greatness of his works.

Sir17:9  He gave them to glory in his marvellous acts for ever, that they might declare his works with understanding.

17:9  In addition, he gave them discipline and the law of life, as their inheritance.

Sir17:10  And the elect shall praise his holy name.

17:10  He established an eternal covenant with them, and he revealed to them his justice and judgments.

Sir17:11  Beside this he gave them knowledge, and the law of life for an heritage.

17:11  And their eye saw the greatness of his honor, and their ears heard the honor of his voice, and he said to them: “Beware of all iniquity.”

Sir17:12  He made an everlasting covenant with them, and shewed them his judgements.

17:12  And he commanded each one concerning his neighbor.

Sir17:13  Their eyes saw the majesty of his glory, and their ears heard his glorious voice.

17:13  Their ways are always in his sight; they are not hidden from his eyes.

Sir17:14  And he said unto them, Beware of all unrighteousness; and he gave every man commandment concerning his neighbour.

17:14  Over each and every people, he has appointed a ruler.

Sir17:15  Their ways are ever before him, and shall not be hid from his eyes.

17:15  And Israel was made to be the manifest portion of God.

Sir17:16  Every man from his youth is given to evil; neither could they make to themselves fleshy hearts for stony.

17:16  And in the sight of God, all their works are like the sun. And his eyes, without ceasing, inspect their ways.

Sir17:17  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

17:17  The covenants are not hidden by their iniquity, and all their iniquities are in the sight of God.

Sir17:18  Whom, being his firstborn, he nourisheth with discipline, and giving him the light of his love doth not forsake him.

17:18  The almsgiving of a man is like a seal upon him, which will guard the grace of a man like the pupil of an eye.

Sir17:19  Therefore all their works are as the sun before him, and his eyes are continually upon their ways.

17:19  And afterward, it will rise up and repay them their reward, each one upon his head, and it will return to the hidden places of the earth.

Sir17:20  None of their unrighteous deeds are hid from him, but all their sins are before the Lord

17:20  Now, to the repentant, he has given the way of justice, and he has strengthened those lacking in patience, and he has fastened them to a destiny of truth.

Sir17:21  But the Lord being gracious and knowing his workmanship, neither left nor forsook them, but spared them.

17:21  Convert to the Lord, and relinquish your sins.

Sir17:22  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.

17:22  Make supplication before the face of the Lord, and diminish your offenses.

Sir17:23  Afterwards he will rise up and reward them, and render their recompence upon their heads.

17:23  Return to the Lord, and turn away from your injustice, and have immense hatred for abomination.

Sir17:24  But unto them that repent, he granted them return, and comforted those that failed in patience.

17:24  And acknowledge the justices and judgments of God, and stand firm in the circumstances set before you and in prayer to the most high God.

Sir17:25  Return unto the Lord, and forsake thy sins, make thy prayer before his face, and offend less.

17:25  Go to the side of the holy generation, to those who live in order to give praise to God.

Sir17:26  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.

17:26  You should not linger in the error of the impious; confess before death. Confession perishes from the dead as if it were nothing.

Sir17:27  Who shall praise the most High in the grave, instead of them which live and give thanks?

17:27  Confess while living; you should give thanks while you are still alive and healthy. And you should praise God and glory in his compassion.

Sir17:28  Thanksgiving perisheth from the dead, as from one that is not: the living and sound in heart shall praise the Lord.

17:28  How great is the mercy of the Lord, and his forgiveness, for those who convert to him!

Sir17:29  How great is the lovingkindness of the Lord our God, and his compassion unto such as turn unto him in holiness!

17:29  For not all things can be in men, because the son of man is not immortal, and because they are pleased by the emptiness of malice.

Sir17:30  For all things cannot be in men, because the son of man is not immortal.

17:30  What is brighter than the sun? Yet this will fail. Or what is more wicked than that which flesh and blood has invented? And this will be reproved.

17:31  He beholds the power of the heights of heaven. And all men are earth and ashes.

Sir17:32  He vieweth the power of the height of heaven; and all men are but earth and ashes.