17:9. Moreover he gave them instructions, and the law of life for an inheritance.
17:10. He made an everlasting covenant with them, and he shewed them his justice and judgments.
17:11. And their eye saw the majesty of his glory, and their ears heard his glorious voice, and he said to them: Beware of all iniquity.
Their eye saw, etc... Viz., when he gave the law on mount Sinai.
17:12. And he gave to every one of them commandment concerning his neighbour.
17:13. Their ways are always before him, they are not hidden from his eyes.
17:14. Over every nation he set a ruler.
17:15. And Israel was made the manifest portion of God.
17:16. And all their works are as the sun in the sight of God: and his eyes are continually upon their ways.
17:17. Their covenants were not hid by their iniquity, and all their iniquities are in the sight of God.
17:18. The alms of a man is as a signet with him, and shall preserve the grace of a man as the apple of the eye:
17:19. And 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.
17:20. But 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.
17:21. Turn to the Lord, and forsake thy sins:
17:22. Make thy prayer before the face of the Lord, and offend less.
Offend less... Minue offendicula. That is, remove sins and the occasions of sins.
17:23. Return to the Lord, and turn away from thy injustice, and greatly hate abomination.
17:24. And know the justices and judgments of God, and stand firm in the lot set before thee, and in prayer to the most high God.
17:25. Go to the side of the holy age, with them that live and give praise to God.
Go to the side, etc... Fly from the side of Satan and sin, and join with the holy ones, that follow God and godliness.
17:26. Tarry not in the error of the ungodly, give glory before death.
Praise perisheth from the dead as nothing.
17:27. Give 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.
17:28. How great is the mercy of the Lord, and his forgiveness to them that turn to him!
17:29. For all things cannot be in men, because the son of man is not immortal, and they are delighted with the vanity of evil.
17:30. What 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.
17:31. He beholdeth the power of the height of heaven: and all men are earth and ashes.
Ecclesiasticus Chapter 18
God's works are wonderful: we must serve him, and not our lusts.
18:1. He that liveth for ever created all things together. God only shall be justified, and he remaineth an invincible king for ever.
18:2. Who is able to declare his works?
18:3. For who shall search out his glorious acts?
18:4. And who shall show forth the power of his majesty? or who shall be able to declare his mercy?
18:5. Nothing may be taken away, nor added, neither is it possible to find out the glorious works of God.
18:6. When a man hath done, then shall he begin: and when he leaveth off, he shall be at a loss.
Then shall he begin... God is so great and incomprehensible, that when man has done all that he can to find out his greatness and boundless perfections, he is still to begin: for what he has found out, is but a mere nothing in comparison with his infinity.
18:7. What is man, and what is his grace? and what is his good, or what is his evil?
18:8. The number of the days of men at the most are a hundred years, as a drop of water of the sea are they esteemed: and as a pebble of the sand, so are a few years compared to eternity.
18:9. Therefore God is patient in them, and poureth forth his mercy upon them.
18:10. He hath seen the presumption of their heart that it is wicked, and hath known their end that it is evil.
18:11. Therefore hath he filled up his mercy in their favour, and hath shewn them the way of justice.
18:12. The compassion of man is toward his neighbour: but the mercy of God is upon all flesh.
18:13. He hath mercy, and teacheth, and correcteth, as a shepherd doth his flock.
18:14. He hath mercy on him that receiveth the discipline of mercy, and that maketh haste in his judgments.
18:15. My son, in thy good deeds, make no complaint, and when thou givest any thing, add not grief by an evil word.
18:16. Shall not the dew assuage the heat? so also the good word is better than the gift.
18:17. Lo, is not a word better than a gift? but both are with a justified man.
18:18. A fool will upbraid bitterly: and a gift of one ill taught consumeth the eyes.
18:19. Before judgment prepare thee justice, and learn before thou speak.
18:20. Before sickness take a medicine, and before judgment examine thyself, and thou shalt find mercy in the sight of God.