Sirach 17:1–14

¹⁷The Lord created humans out of earth

and makes them return to it again.^*

²He gave them a fixed number of days

but granted them authority over everything on the earth.^d*

³He endowed them with strength like his own^e

and made them in his own image.^*

⁴He put the fear of them^f in all living beings

and gave them dominion over beasts and birds.^g*

⁶Discretion and tongue and eyes,

ears and a mind for thinking he gave them.

⁷He filled them with knowledge and understanding

and showed them good and evil.^*

⁸He put the fear of him into^h their hearts

to show them the majesty of his works.ⁱ

¹⁰And they will praise his holy name,^*

⁹to proclaim the grandeur of his works.

¹¹He bestowed knowledge upon them

and allotted to them the law of life.^j*

¹²He established with them an eternal covenant

and revealed to them his decrees.^*

¹³Their eyes saw his glorious majesty,

and their ears heard the glory of his voice.^*

¹⁴He said to them, “Beware of all iniquity.”

And he gave commandment to each of them concerning the neighbor.^*