1 You should not rejoice in impious children, if they are successful; nor should you take delight in them, if the fear of God is not in them.
2 You should not approve of their life, nor should you look with favor on their labors.
3 For one child who fears God is better than one thousand impious children.
4 And it is better to die without children, than to leave behind impious children.
5 By means one person with understanding, a country will be inhabited. The tribe of the impious will become desolate.
6 Many such things my eyes have seen, and greater things than these my ear has heard.
7 In the synagogue of sinners, a fire will blaze forth; and amid an unbelieving people, wrath will flare up.
8 The giants of antiquity did not obtain pardon for their sins; they were destroyed by trusting in their own abilities.
9 And he did not spare the place of Lot’s sojourn, and he abhorred them because of the arrogance of their words.
10 He did not take pity on them, destroying an entire people, who even extolled themselves concerning their sins.
11 And this was so with six hundred thousand men, who were gathered together in the hardness of their hearts. And if even a single obstinate person had escaped unpunished, it would be a wonder.
12 For mercy and wrath are with him. He is powerful in forgiveness, and he pours forth wrath.
13 As is his mercy, so also is his correction; he judges a man according to his works.
14 The sinner, in his violations, will not escape; but the patience of the One who shows mercy will not be diminished.
15 Every mercy will make a place for each man, according to the merit of his works, and according to the understanding of his sojourn.
16 You should not say: “I am hidden from God,” or, “Who, from on high, will take note of me?”
17 or, “Among a great number of people, I will not be noticed. For what is my soul amid such an immense creation?”
18 Behold: the heavens, and the heaven of the heavens, the abyss, and the entire earth, and the things that are within these, will be shaken by his gaze,
19 together with mountains and hills, and the foundations of the earth. When God casts his gaze upon them, they will be struck with trembling.
20 And concerning all these things, the heart is without understanding; but every heart is understood by him.
21 And who will understand his ways, or the tempest, which no eye of man will see?
22 For many of his works are concealed. But who will announce the works of his justice? Or who will endure them? For the testament is far from some persons, and the examination of each thing is in its end.
23 Whoever diminishes the heart, thinks empty thoughts. For the imprudent and erring man thinks up foolishness.
24 Listen to me, son, and learn the discipline of understanding, and attend to my words in your heart.
25 And I will speak with equity about discipline, and I will strive to announce wisdom. So attend to my words in your heart, and I will speak with equity of spirit, about the virtues that God has set within his works from the beginning, and I will announce his knowledge in truth.
26 With the judgment of God, his works have been done from the beginning; and from their institution, he himself distinguished their parts and set their beginnings, in their kinds.
27 He has beautified their works unto eternity. They have neither hungered, nor labored, and they have not ceased from their works.
28 Neither will any one of them cause anguish to his neighbor, forever.
29 You should not be incredulous at his word.
30 Afterward, God looked with favor upon the earth, and he filled it with his goodness.
31 The soul of every living thing brought word from before his face, and their return again is to him.
Versículos relacionados com Ecclesiasticus, 16:
Ecclesiastical 16 deals with the grandeur of God, his providence and sovereignty about creation. The author highlights God's goodness in giving life and taking care of his creation, as well as the importance of obedience and fear of him. Following are five verses related to these themes:
Psalm 24:1: "From the Lord is the earth and all that exists in it, the world and those who live in it." This verse speaks of God's sovereignty about all creation. He is the owner of the earth and all that exists in it, including all human beings.
Acts 17:28: "For we live, we move and exist, as some of your poets said, 'We are also His offspring.'" This verse highlights the dependence of human beings in relation to God. It is through him that we live, move and exist.
Job 38:4: "Where were you when I launched the foundations of the earth? Tell us if you have understanding." This question from God Job highlights the greatness and wisdom of God in creation. He is the author of everything that exists and deeply knows every detail of the creation.
Psalm 145:9: "The Lord is good for all; His compassion reaches all his creatures." This verse speaks of God's goodness to his creation. He takes care of all his creatures, from the largest to the smallest.
Proverbs 9:10: "The fear of the Lord is the principle of wisdom, and the knowledge of the saint is understanding." This verse highlights the importance of fear of God and its knowledge as the basis for wisdom and understanding. The author of Ecclesiastical 16 also emphasizes the importance of fear of God in his reflection on divine grandeur.
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