Chapter 17

¹God created man of the earth, and made him after his own image. ²And he turned him into it again, and clothed him with strength according to himself. ³He gave him the number of his days and time, and gave him power over all things that are upon the earth. ⁴He put the fear of him upon all flesh, and he had dominion over beasts and fowls. ⁵He created of him a helpmate like to himself: he gave them counsel, and a tongue, and eyes, and ears, and a heart to devise: and he filled them with the knowledge of understanding. ⁶He created in them the science of the spirit, he filled their heart with wisdom, and shewed them both good and evil. ⁷He set his eye upon their hearts to shew them the greatness of his works: ⁸That they might praise the name which he hath sanctified: and glory in his wondrous acts, that they might declare the glorious things of his works. ⁹Moreover he gave them instructions, and the law of life for an inheritance. ¹⁰He made an everlasting covenant with them, and he shewed them his justice and judgments. ¹¹And their eye saw the majesty of his glory. and their ears heard his glorious voice, and he said to them: Beware of all iniquity. ¹²And he gave to every one of them commandment concerning his neighbour. ¹³Their ways are always before him, they are not hidden from his eyes. ¹⁴Over every nation he set a ruler. ¹⁵And Israel was made the manifest portion of God. ¹⁶And all their works are as the sun in the sight of God: and his eyes are continually upon their ways. ¹⁷Their covenants were not hid by their iniquity, and all their iniquities are in the sight of God. ¹⁸The alms of a man is as a signet with him, and shall preserve the grace of a man as the apple of the eye: ¹⁹And afterward he shall rise up, and shall render them their reward, to every one upon their own head, and shall turn them down into the bowels of the earth. ²⁰But to the penitent he hath given the way of justice, and he hath strengthened them that were fainting in patience, and hath appointed to them the lot of truth. ²¹Turn to the Lord, and forsake thy sins: ²²Make thy prayer before the face of the Lord, and offend less. ²³Return to the Lord, and turn away from thy injustice, and greatly hate abomination. ²⁴And know the justices and judgments of God, and stand firm in the lot set before thee, and in prayer to the most high God. ²⁵Go to the side of the holy age, with them that live and give praise to God. ²⁶Tarry not in the error of the ungodly, give glory before death. Praise perisheth from the dead as nothing. ²⁷Give thanks whilst thou art living, whilst thou art alive and in health thou shalt give thanks, and shalt praise God, and shalt glory in his mercies. ²⁸How great is the mercy of the Lord, and his forgiveness to them that turn to him I ²⁹For all things cannot be in men, because the son of man is not immortal, and they are delighted with the vanity of evil. ³⁰What is brighter than the sun; yet it shall be eclipsed. Or what is more wicked than that which flesh and blood hath invented? and this shall be reproved. ³¹He beholdeth the power of the height of heaven: and all men are earth and ashes.