| 1 | The Lord created human beings out of earth, and makes them return to it again. |
| 2 | He gave them a fixed number of days, but granted them authority over everything on the earth. |
| 3 | He endowed them with strength like his own, and made them in his own image. |
| 4 | He put the fear of them in all living beings, and gave them dominion over beasts and birds. |
| 5 | - |
| 6 | Discretion and tongue and eyes, ears and a mind for thinking he gave them. |
| 7 | He filled them with knowledge and understanding, and showed them good and evil. |
| 8 | He put the fear of him into their hearts to show them the majesty of his works. |
| 9 | And they will praise his holy name, to proclaim the grandeur of his works. |
| 10 | - |
| 11 | He bestowed knowledge upon them, and allotted to them the law of life. |
| 12 | He established with them an eternal covenant, and revealed to them his decrees. |
| 13 | Their eyes saw his glorious majesty, and their ears heard the glory of his voice. |
| 14 | He said to them, “Beware of all evil.” And he gave commandment to each of them concerning the neighbor. |
| 15 | Their ways are always known to him; they will not be hid from his eyes. |
| 16 | - |
| 17 | He appointed a ruler for every nation, but Israel is the Lord’s own portion. |
| 18 | - |
| 19 | All their works are as clear as the sun before him, and his eyes are ever upon their ways. |
| 20 | Their iniquities are not hidden from him, and all their sins are before the Lord. |
| 21 | - |
| 22 | One’s almsgiving is like a signet ring with the Lord, and he will keep a person’s kindness like the apple of his eye. |
| 23 | Afterward he will rise up and repay them, and he will bring their recompense on their heads. |
| 24 | Yet to those who repent he grants a return, and he encourages those who are losing hope. |
| 25 | Turn back to the Lord and forsake your sins; pray in his presence and lessen your offense. |
| 26 | Return to the Most High and turn away from iniquity, and hate intensely what he abhors. |
| 27 | Who will sing praises to the Most High in Hades in place of the living who give thanks? |
| 28 | From the dead, as from one who does not exist, thanksgiving has ceased; those who are alive and well sing the Lord’s praises. |
| 29 | How great is the mercy of the Lord, and his forgiveness for those who return to him! |
| 30 | For not everything is within human capability, since human beings are not immortal. |
| 31 | What is brighter than the sun? Yet it can be eclipsed. So flesh and blood devise evil. |
| 32 | He marshals the host of the height of heaven; but all human beings are dust and ashes. |