15:18. Before man is life and death, good and evil, that which he shall choose shall be given him:
15:19. For the wisdom of G.o.d is great, and he is strong in power, seeing all men without ceasing.
15:20. The eyes of the Lord are towards them that fear him, and he knoweth al the work of man.
15:21. He hath commanded no man to do wickedly, and he hath given no man license to sin;
15:22. For he desireth not a mult.i.tude of faithless and unprofitable children.
Ecclesiasticus Chapter 16
It is better to have none than many wicked children. Of the justice and mercy of G.o.d. His ways are unsearchable.
16:1. Rejoice not in unG.o.dly children, if they be multiplied: neither be delighted in them, if the fear of G.o.d be not with them.
16:2. Trust not to their life, and respect not their labours.
16:3. For better is one that feareth G.o.d, than a thousand unG.o.dly children.
16:4. And it is better to die without children, than to leave unG.o.dly children.
16:5. By one that is wise a country shall be inhabited, the tribe of the unG.o.dly shall become desolate.
16:6. Many such things hath my eyes seen, and greater things than these my ear hath heard.
16:7. In the congregation of sinners a fire shall be kindled, and in an unbelieving nation wrath shall flame out.
16:8. The ancient giants did not obtain pardon for their sins, who were destroyed trusting to their own strength:
16:9. And he spared not the place where Lot sojourned, but abhorred them for the pride of their word.
16:10. He had not pity on them, destroying the whole nation that extolled themselves in their sins.
16:11. So did he with the six hundred thousand footmen, who were gathered together in the hardness of their heart: and if one had been stiffnecked, it is a wonder if he had escaped unpunished:
Six hundred thousand footmen, etc... Viz., the children of Israel, whom he sentenced to die in the wilderness. Num. 14.
16:12. For mercy and wrath are with him. He is mighty to forgive, and to pour out indignation:
16:13. According as his mercy is, so his correction judgeth a man according to his works.
16:14. The sinner shall not escape in his rapines, and the patience of him that sheweth mercy shall not be put off.
16:15. All mercy shall make a place for every man according to the merit of his works, and according to the wisdom of his sojournment.
16:16. Say not: I shall be hidden from G.o.d, and who shall remember me from on high?
16:17. In such a mult.i.tude I shall not be known: for what is my soul in such an immense creation?
16:18. Behold the heaven, and the heavens of heavens, the deep, and all the earth, and the things that are in them, shall be moved in his sight,
16:19. The mountains also, and the hills, and the foundations of the earth: when G.o.d shall look upon them, they shall be shaken with trembling.
16:20. And in all these things the heart is senseless: and every heart is understood by him.
16:21. And his ways who shall understand, and the storm, which no eye of man shall see?
16:22. For many of his works are hidden, but the works of his justice who shall declare? or who shall endure? for the testament is far from some, and the examination of all is in the end.
16:23. He that wanteth understanding thinketh vain things, and the foolish, and erring man, thinketh foolish things.
16:24. Hearken to me, my son, and learn the discipline of understanding, and attend to my words in thy heart.
16:25. And I will shew forth good doctrine in equity, and will seek to declare wisdom: and attend to my words in thy heart, whilst with equity of spirit I tell thee the virtues that G.o.d hath put upon his works from the beginning, and I shew forth in truth his knowledge.
16:26. The works of G.o.d are done in judgment from the beginning, and from the making of them he distinguished their parts, and their beginnings in their generations.
16:27. He beautified their works for ever, they have neither hungered, nor laboured, and they have not ceased from their works.
16:28. Nor shall any of them straiten his neighbour at any time.
16:29. Be not thou incredulous to his word.
16:30. After this G.o.d looked upon the earth, and filled it with his goods.
16:31. The soul of every living thing hath shewn forth before the face thereof, and into it they return again.
Shewn forth... Viz., the glory and power of G.o.d upon the earth.
Ecclesiasticus Chapter 17
The creation and favour of G.o.d to man. An exhortation to turn to G.o.d.
17:1. G.o.d created man of the earth, and made him after his own image.
17:2. And he turned him into it again, and clothed him with strength according to himself.
17:3. He gave him the number of his days and time, and gave him power over all things that are upon the earth.
17:4. He put the fear of him upon all flesh, and he had dominion over beasts and fowls.
17:5. He 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.
17:6. He created in them the science of the spirit, he fired their heart with wisdom, and shewed them both good and evil.
17:7. He set his eye upon their hearts to shew them the greatness of his works:
17:8. That they might praise the name which he hath sanctified: and glory in his wondrous act that they might declare the glorious things of his works.