1 He who lives forever created all without exception.
2 The Lord alone will be found righteous.
4 He has made no one powerful enough to proclaim his works; who then, will reveal his marvels?
5 Who can calculate the power of his majesty and relate his great goodness?
6 Nothing can be added to him or taken away; no one can fathom the wonders of the Lord.
7 When man thinks he has finished, then he is only beginning and when he stops he is puzzled by it all.
8 What is man? What is his purpose? What is the good in him and what the bad?
9 Take the length of his life: a hundred years is long.
10 Like a drop of water from the sea, a grain of sand, such are his few years compared with eternity.
11 For this reason, the Lord has patience with them and pours out his mercy on them.
12 He sees and realizes how miserable their end is and so he heaps his forgiveness upon them.
13 Man's mercy is for his neighbor but the compassion of the Lord reaches all people; he rebukes, corrects, teaches and brings back his flock like a shepherd.
14 He takes pity on those who accept correction and eagerly seek his will.
15 My son, do not mix your favors with unkind remarks or your gifts with bitter words.
16 Does not dew temper the heat? So, too, a kind word is much better than a gift.
17 The gift is not as valuable as the words which accompany it, but a generous man brings both.
18 The fool intends to please but insults, a grudging man's gift makes the eyes smart.
19 Find out the facts before you speak; look after yourself before you become ill.
20 Examine yourself before judgment comes and, on the day of God's visitation, you will be forgiven.
21 Humble yourself before you become ill and show repentance for your sins.
22 Let nothing prevent you from fulfilling your vow on time; do not wait until death to put things in order.
23 Prepare yourself before praying and do not be one of those who tempt the Lord.
24 Keep in mind the justice of the last days; God will turn his face from you on the day of vengeance.
25 When you experience abundance, remember the days of famine; when you enjoy riches, think of poverty and misery.
26 Time slips by between morning and evening, all things pass quickly before the Lord.
27 The prudent man is cautious in everything; when sin abounds he will keep away from wrongdoing.
28 Every sensible man recognizes wisdom and respects those who obtain her.
29 Those who speak sensibly are wise, and marvelous sayings flow from them.
30 Do not let your passions rule you and restrain your desires.
31 If you satisfy your lusts you will make yourself the laughingstock of your enemies.
32 Do not take pleasure in great luxury, lest you become impoverished by its expense.
33 Do not impoverish yourself by feasting on credit when you have nothing in your pocket.
Versículos relacionados com Ecclesiasticus, 18:
Chapter 18 of the Ecclesiastical Book deals with the greatness and wisdom of God, emphasizing the importance of obedience to Him and trust in His ways. Moreover, the chapter discusses justice and punishment of the wicked, as well as the blessing of peace and harmony among human beings. Below are five verses related to the topics covered in ecclesiastical 18:
Proverbs 1:7: "The fear of the Lord is the principle of wisdom; the foolishness despises wisdom and discipline." This verse talks about the importance of fear and respect for God as the basis for wisdom.
Psalm 37:7: "Rest in the Lord and wait for Him with patience; don't be bored with the success of others, nor with those who make up evil." This verse emphasizes the importance of trust in God and patience, even when the wicked prosper.
Isaiah 48:18: "Ah, if you were paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would be like a river, and your righteousness as the waves of the sea." This verse highlights the connection between obedience to God's commandments and peace and justice that result from it.
Proverbs 11:21: "Assured that the wicked will not be unpunished, but the descent of the righteous will be saved." This verse highlights divine justice and the punishment of the wicked.
Psalm 34:14: "Go away from evil and do good; seek peace with perseverance." This verse emphasizes the importance of seeking peace and avoiding evil through perseverance.
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