Ecclesiasticus, also known as the Wisdom of Jesus ben Sira or simply Sirach, is a deuterocanonical book accepted in the Ethiopian, Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox Bibles. It is considered apocryphal in Protestantism. The author is Jesus ben Sira, written originally in Hebrew around 180-175 BC and translated into Greek by his grandson around 132 BC.
Ecclesiasticus
Chapter 17
The Lord created man of the earth, and turned him into it again.
He gave them few days, and a short time, and power also over the things therein.
He endued them with strength by themselves, and made them according to his image,
And put the fear of man upon all flesh, and gave him dominion over beasts and fowls.
They received the use of the five operations of the Lord; in the sixth place he imparted them understanding, and in the seventh speech, the interpreter of the cogitations thereof.
He gave them discretion, and a tongue, and eyes, and ears, and a heart to devise: he filled them with the knowledge of understanding.
He created in them the knowledge of the spirit, he filled their hearts with understanding, and shewed them good and evil.
He set his eye upon their hearts, that he might shew them the greatness of his works.
He gave them the glory of his name, that they might magnify his wondrous works, and declare the greatness of his deeds.
He added unto them knowledge, and gave them the law of life for an heritage.
He made an everlasting covenant with them, and shewed them his judgments.
Their eyes saw the majesty of his glory, and their ears heard his glorious voice.
He said unto them, Beware of all iniquity; and gave every man a commandment concerning his neighbour.
Their ways are ever before him, and are not hid from his eyes.
He hath set his eye upon their hearts, to show them his works.
All the works of men are before him as the sun, and his eyes are continually upon their ways.
Their iniquities are not hidden from him, and all their sins are before the Lord.
The alms of a man is as a seal with him, and he will keep the good deeds of man as the apple of the eye.
Afterwards he will rise up and reward them, and render their recompence upon their heads.
But unto them that repent, he granted them return, and comforted those that failed in patience.
Return unto the Lord, and forsake thy sins, make thy prayer before his face, and offend less.
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.
Who shall praise the most High in the grave, instead of them which live and give thanks?
Thanksgiving perisheth from the dead, as from one that is not: the living and sound in heart shall praise the Lord.
How great is the lovingkindness of the Lord our God, and his compassion unto such as turn unto him in holiness!
For all things cannot be in men, because the son of man is not immortal.
What is brighter than the sun? yet the light thereof faileth; and flesh and blood will imagine evil.
He vieweth the power of the height of heaven; and all men are but earth and ashes.