Ecclesiasticus 17
How to read these pages: the text itself comes first, verse by verse, in the volume's own translation. Beneath each verse stands its Meaning — a rendering of what the passage's terms name in the inner life, drawn from the correspondences the text itself uses. The text is never altered; the meaning is offered, not imposed.
King James Version
1The Lord created man of the earth, and turned him into it again.
The indwelling LORD created man of the earth — the Complete Man formed of the outer ground — and turned him into it again.
2He gave them few days, and a short time, and power also over the things therein.
He gave them few days, and a short time, and power also over the things therein.
3He endued them with strength by themselves, and made them according to his image,
He endued them with strength by themselves, and made them according to His image — His pattern, His likeness,
4And put the fear of man upon all flesh, and gave him dominion over beasts and fowls.
And put the fear of man upon all flesh, and gave him dominion — rightful rule of the spiritual mind — over beasts and fowls, over the untamed nature and the soaring thoughts.
5They received the use of the five operations of the Lord, and in the sixth place he imparted them understanding, and in the seventh speech, an interpreter of the cogitations thereof.
They received the use of the five operations of the indwelling LORD, and in the sixth place He imparted them understanding, and in the seventh speech, an interpreter of the cogitations thereof — the five senses, then understanding, then speech to utter thought, in their numbered order.
6Counsel, and a tongue, and eyes, ears, and a heart, gave he them to understand.
Counsel, and a tongue, and eyes, ears, and a heart, gave He them to understand.
7Withal he filled them with the knowledge of understanding, and shewed them good and evil.
Withal He filled them with the knowledge of understanding, and showed them good and evil.
8He set his eye upon their hearts, that he might shew them the greatness of his works.
He set His eye upon their hearts, that He might show them the greatness of His works.
9He gave them to glory in his marvellous acts for ever, that they might declare his works with understanding.
He gave them to glory in His marvellous acts for ever, that they might declare His works with understanding.
10And the elect shall praise his holy name.
And the elect — the chosen states — shall praise His holy name.
11Beside this he gave them knowledge, and the law of life for an heritage.
Beside this He gave them knowledge, and the law of life for an heritage — the written order of the divine life as their inheritance.
12He made an everlasting covenant with them, and shewed them his judgments.
He made an everlasting covenant with them — a law of relationship written into the state — and showed them His judgments.
13Their eyes saw the majesty of his glory, and their ears heard his glorious voice.
Their eyes saw the majesty of His glory — the manifested weight of His Presence — and their ears heard His glorious voice.
14And he said unto them, Beware of all unrighteousness; and he gave every man commandment concerning his neighbour.
And He said to them, Beware of all unrighteousness; and He gave every man commandment concerning his neighbour.
15Their ways are ever before him, and shall not be hid from his eyes.
Their ways are ever before Him, and shall not be hid from His eyes.
16Every man from his youth is given to evil; neither could they make to themselves fleshy hearts for stony.
Every man from his youth is given to evil; neither could they make to themselves fleshy hearts for stony — the heart of flesh must be given, not self-made.
17For in the division of the nations of the whole earth he set a ruler over every people; but Israel is the Lord’s portion:
For in the division of the nations of the whole earth He set a ruler over every people; but Israel — the spiritual man who has striven and prevailed — is the LORD's portion:
18Whom, being his firstborn, he nourisheth with discipline, and giving him the light of his love doth not forsake him.
Whom, being His firstborn, He nourishes with discipline — with training — and giving him the light of His love does not forsake him.
19Therefore all their works are as the sun before him, and his eyes are continually upon their ways.
Therefore all their works are as the sun before Him, and His eyes are continually upon their ways.
20None of their unrighteous deeds are hid from him, but all their sins are before the Lord
None of their unrighteous deeds are hid from Him, but all their sins are before the indwelling LORD.
21But the Lord being gracious and knowing his workmanship, neither left nor forsook them, but spared them.
But the LORD being gracious and knowing His workmanship, neither left nor forsook them, but spared them.
22The alms of a man is as a signet with him, and he will keep the good deeds of man as the apple of the eye, and give repentance to his sons and daughters.
The alms of a man is as a signet with Him, and He will keep the good deeds of man as the apple of the eye, and give repentance — the turning of the mind — to his sons and daughters.
23Afterwards he will rise up and reward them, and render their recompence upon their heads.
Afterwards He will rise up and reward them, and render their recompence upon their heads.
24But unto them that repent, he granted them return, and comforted those that failed in patience.
But to them that repent, He granted them return, and comforted those that failed in patience.
25Return unto the Lord, and forsake thy sins, make thy prayer before his face, and offend less.
Return to the indwelling LORD, and forsake your sins, make your prayer before His face, and offend less.
26Turn again to the most High, and turn away from iniquity: for he will lead thee out of darkness into the light of health, and hate thou abomination vehemently.
Turn again to the most High, and turn away from iniquity: for He will lead you out of darkness — unilluminated consciousness — into the light of health, and hate abomination vehemently.
27Who shall praise the most High in the grave, instead of them which live and give thanks?
Who shall praise the most High in the grave, instead of them which live and give thanks?
28Thanksgiving perisheth from the dead, as from one that is not: the living and sound in heart shall praise the Lord.
Thanksgiving perishes from the dead, as from one that is not: the living and sound in heart shall praise the indwelling LORD.
29How great is the lovingkindness of the Lord our God, and his compassion unto such as turn unto him in holiness!
How great is the lovingkindness of the LORD our God, and His compassion to such as turn to Him in holiness!
30For all things cannot be in men, because the son of man is not immortal.
For all things cannot be in men, because the son of man is not immortal.
31What is brighter than the sun? yet the light thereof faileth; and flesh and blood will imagine evil.
What is brighter than the sun? Yet the light thereof fails; and flesh and blood will imagine evil.
32He vieweth the power of the height of heaven; and all men are but earth and ashes.
He views the power of the height of heaven — of the highest inner realm — and all men are but earth and ashes.
Companion volume to The Why Bible — the King James Apocrypha, rendered in its spiritual meanings. First final edition, October 2026.