Sirach 17:11-26 Catholic Public Domain Version (CPDV)

11. And their eye saw the greatness of his honor, and their ears heard the honor of his voice, and he said to them: "Beware of all iniquity."

12. And he commanded each one concerning his neighbor.

13. Their ways are always in his sight; they are not hidden from his eyes.

14. Over each and every people, he has appointed a ruler.

15. And Israel was made to be the manifest portion of God.

16. And in the sight of God, all their works are like the sun. And his eyes, without ceasing, inspect their ways.

17. The covenants are not hidden by their iniquity, and all their iniquities are in the sight of God.

18. The almsgiving of a man is like a seal upon him, which will guard the grace of a man like the pupil of an eye.

19. And afterward, it will rise up and repay them their reward, each one upon his head, and it will return to the hidden places of the earth.

20. Now, to the repentant, he has given the way of justice, and he has strengthened those lacking in patience, and he has fastened them to a destiny of truth.

21. Convert to the Lord, and relinquish your sins.

22. Make supplication before the face of the Lord, and diminish your offenses.

23. Return to the Lord, and turn away from your injustice, and have immense hatred for abomination.

24. And acknowledge the justices and judgments of God, and stand firm in the circumstances set before you and in prayer to the most high God.

25. Go to the side of the holy generation, to those who live in order to give praise to God.

26. You should not linger in the error of the impious; confess before death. Confession perishes from the dead as if it were nothing.

Sirach 17