What does Ecclesiasticus Chapter 17 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

Human creation and faculties lead to law, covenant and neighbor command. National rule, Israel portion and visible deeds precede alms and penitent justice. Conversion and living praise retain edition notes and mortality language without added doctrine.

Chapter breakdown

Ecclesiasticus 17 says God created man from earth in his image, returned him to it and clothed him with corresponding strength. Numbered days, earthly power, fear upon flesh and dominion over beasts and birds follow. From him came a like helpmate, with counsel, tongue, eyes, ears and devising heart, understanding, spirit's science, wisdom and knowledge of good and evil. God's eye upon hearts shows works' greatness for praise and proclamation. Instructions and life's inherited law accompany everlasting covenant, justice and judgments. Eyes see glory and ears hear the prohibition of iniquity; the separate edition note locates this in the giving of law at Sinai. Each receives a neighbor-command, with ways visible to God. A ruler is set over each nation and Israel made God's manifest portion.

Works are like sun before him and covenants not hidden by iniquity. Alms are a signet preserving grace as an eye's apple. God will rise and render reward on each head, turning them into earth's depths. Penitents receive justice's way, faint patience strengthened and truth's lot. Turn to God, forsake sins, pray and offend less; the separate note interprets the latter as removing sins and their occasions. Return from injustice, hate abomination, know divine judgments and remain firm in one's lot and prayer.

Join those living in holy age and praise; the separate note explains leaving Satan and sin for godly company. Do not linger in ungodly error; give glory before death, since praise perishes from the dead as nothing. Give thanks while living and healthy and glory in mercy. Divine mercy and forgiveness are great for those returning. Humans cannot contain all things, are not immortal and delight in evil vanity. Even the bright sun is eclipsed; flesh-and-blood inventions are wicked and reproved. God beholds heaven's height while all men are earth and ashes. The chapter's urgency is not expanded into a doctrine ending all opportunity for divine mercy or a chronology of resurrection revelation.

The story inside

Opening: Human creation and faculties lead to law, covenant and neighbor command. Development: National rule, Israel portion and visible deeds precede alms and penitent justice. Conclusion: Conversion and living praise retain edition notes and mortality language without added doctrine.

Lessons worth keeping

1
Human creation and faculties lead to law, covenant and neighbor command.
2
National rule, Israel portion and visible deeds precede alms and penitent justice.
3
Conversion and living praise retain edition notes and mortality language without added doctrine.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 74829–74829
17:1. God created man of the earth, and made him after his own image.
Lines 74844–74845
17:6. He created in them the science of the spirit, he filled their heart with wisdom, and shewed them both good and evil.
Lines 74881–74882
17:18. The alms of a man is as a signet with him, and shall preserve the grace of a man as the apple of the eye:
Lines 74911–74912
17:26. Tarry not in the error of the ungodly, give glory before death. Praise perisheth from the dead as nothing.
Lines 74914–74916
17:27. Give thanks whilst thou art living, whilst thou art alive and in health thou shalt give thanks, and shalt praise God, and shalt glory in his mercies.
Lines 74928–74929
17:31. He beholdeth the power of the height of heaven: and all men are earth and ashes.