Sirach chapter 17
[This chapter is in Orthodox and Catholic Bibles] Human nature reveals God’s wisdom.
The Book of Sirach is recognized as Deuterocanonical Scripture by the Orthodox and Catholic Churches
HUMAN NATURE REVEALS GOD’S WISDOM
VERSE 1. The Lord created man of the earth, And turned him back to it again.
The Lord created man. The LORD God wills that we exist.
We are intended. We have a divine purpose. Nobody is an accident.
VERSE 2. He gave them days by number, and a set time, And gave them authority over the things that are on it.
VERSE 3. He endowed them with strength proper to them; And made them according to his own image.
strength proper to them. The LORD God gave us the strength we need to fulfill our calling in life.
made them according to his own image. We humans are made in the image and likeness of God.
That expression is often referred to by its equivalent in Latin:
Imago Dei
VERSE 4. He put the fear of man upon all flesh, And gave him to have dominion over beasts and fowls.
VERSE 5.
This verse is omitted in the best manuscripts.
VERSE 6. Counsel, and tongue, and eyes, Ears, and heart, gave he them to understand withal.
VERSE 7. He filled them with the knowledge of wisdom, And showed them good and evil.
VERSE 8. He set his eye upon their hearts, To show them the majesty of his works.
To show them the majesty of his works. The LORD God wishes us to behold the greatness of his works.
VERSE 9.
This verse is omitted in the best manuscripts.
VERSE 10. And they will praise the name of his holiness, That they may declare the majesty of his works.
VERSE 11. He added to them knowledge, And gave them a law of life for a heritage.
VERSE 12. He made an everlasting covenant with them, And showed them his judgments.
showed them his judgments. The LORD God revealed to us his commandments.
This is a great kindness from the Most High God.
VERSE 13. Their eyes saw the majesty of his glory; And their ear heard the glory of his voice.
his voice. Some manuscripts read their voice.
VERSE 14. And he said to them, Beware of all unrighteousness; And he gave them commandment, each man concerning his neighbor.
VERSE 15. Their ways are ever before him; They will not be hid from his eyes.
VERSE 16.
This verse is omitted in the best manuscripts.
VERSE 17. For every nation he appointed a ruler; And Israel is the Lord’s portion.
a ruler. This could refer to political leaders.
Or it could refer to an angel placed over the particular nation.
VERSE 18.
This verse is omitted in the best manuscripts.
VERSE 19. All their works are as the sun before him; And his eyes are continually upon their ways.
VERSE 20. Their iniquities are not hid from him; And all their sins are before the Lord.
all their sins are before the Lord. To sin is to violate God’s will for us. It harms our relationship with God. We all have missed the mark and sinned. Here are the verses we’ve found »
VERSE 21.
This verse is omitted in the best manuscripts.
VERSE 22. With him the alms of a man is as a signet; And he will keep the bounty of a man as the apple of the eye.
And he will keep the bounty of a man as the apple of the eye. This part of the verse is omitted in the best manuscripts.
VERSE 23. Afterwards he will rise up and recompense them, And render their recompense upon their head.
VERSE 24. However to those who repent he grants a return; And he comforts those who are losing patience.
VERSE 25. Return to the Lord, and forsake sins: Make your prayer before his face, and lessen the offence.
VERSE 26. Turn again to the Most High, and turn away from iniquity; And greatly hate the abominable thing.
VERSE 27. Who will give praise to the Most High in the grave, Instead of them which live and return thanks?
the grave. That is, Hades.
VERSE 28. Thanksgiving perishes from the dead, as from one that is not: He that is in life and health will praise the Lord.
VERSE 29. How great is the mercy of the Lord, And his forgiveness to those who turn to him!
VERSE 30. For all things can’t be in men, Because the son of man is not immortal.
VERSE 31. What is brighter than the sun? yet this fails: And an evil man will think on flesh and blood.
VERSE 32. He looks upon the power of the height of heaven: And all men are earth and ashes.
SIRACH
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Chronology
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