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