Sirach 18

1He who lives forever created everything;

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2The Lord alone will be declared righteous.

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3He permitted no one to proclaim His works, For who can trace out His mighty works?

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4Who will measure His majestic power with a number, And who will add to this measure While describing His mercies?

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5There is no one who can add or subtract, And there is no who can search out the wonders of the Lord.

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6When a man completes his search, then he starts over; And when he stops, he will still be perplexed.

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7What is man and what use is he; What is his good and what is his evil?

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8The number of a man's days is considered great If he is one hundred years old.

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9But like a drop of water from the sea and a grain of sand, So are a few years within a day of eternity.

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10Therefore the Lord is patient with them And pours out His mercy upon them.

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11He sees and knows their end, that it is evil; Therefore He makes full atonement for them.

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12The mercy of a man is upon his neighbor, But the mercy of the Lord is upon all flesh, Rebuking, training, and teaching them Like a shepherd who returns his flock to the fold.

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13He has mercy on those who receive His discipline And who are eager for His judgments.

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14My son, do not bring disgrace on the good you have done, Nor cause grief by your words when you make a gift.

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15Does not dew give relief from the burning heat? In the same way, a word is better than a gift.

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16Indeed, is not a word better than a fitting gift? And both are found in a gracious man.

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17A fool will insult and disgrace someone, And the gift of an envious man makes his eyes waste away.

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18Before you speak, learn, And before you get sick, take care of your health.

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19Before you make a judgment, examine yourself closely, And in the hour of visitation you will find atonement.

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20Before you become sick, humble yourself; And at the time of sinning, prove your conversion.

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21Let nothing hinder you from paying a vow promptly, And do not wait until death to become righteous.

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22Before you make a vow, prepare yourself; And do not become like a man who tempts the Lord.

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23Remember His anger on the day of your death, At the time of vengeance, when He turns His face away.

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24Remember the time of hunger in the time of plenty, And poverty and need in the days of wealth.

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25From morning until evening, time changes; And all things are soon in the presence of the Lord.

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26A wise man will have the fear of God in every thing he does; And in these days of sin, he will guard against wrongdoing.

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27Every intelligent man knows wisdom And praises the one who finds her.

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28The wise in words—they also make others wise, And they pour forth accurate proverbs.

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29Do not walk after your own desires, But restrain your appetites.

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30If you fill your soul with the desire for pleasure, It will make you the laughingstock of your enemies.

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31Do not rejoice in great luxury, Lest you become needy by its expense.

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32Do not become a beggar by feasting on borrowed money When you have nothing in your purse.

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