Ben Sira 33:8-18

8 By the knowledge of the Lord they were distinguished, and He altered seasons and feasts.
9 Some of them hath He made high days, and hallowed them, and some of them hath He made ordinary days.
10 And all men are from the ground, and Adam was created of earth.
11 In much knowledge the Lord hath divided them, and made their ways diverse.
12 Some of them hath He blessed and exalted, and some of them He sanctified and set near Himself; but some of them hath He cursed and brought low, and turned out of their places.
13 As the clay is in the potter's hand to fashion it at his pleasure, so man is in the hand of Him that made him, to render to them as He liketh best.
14 Good is set against evil, and life against death; so is the godly against the sinner, and the sinner against the godly.
15 So look upon all the works of the Most High; and there are two and two, one against another.
16 I awaked up last of all, as one that gathereth after the grape-gatherers, by the blessing of the Lord I profited, and filled my wine press like a gatherer of grapes.
17 Consider that I labored not for myself only, but for all them that seek learning.
18 Hear me, O ye great men of the people, and hearken with your ears, ye rulers of the congregation.
Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved.