Ben Sira 18:8-18

8 What is man, and whereto serveth he? What is his good, and what is his evil?
9 The number of a man's days at the most are a hundred years.
10 As a drop of water unto the sea, and a gravelstone in comparison to the sand, so are a thousand years to the days of eternity.
11 Therefore is God patient with them, and poureth forth His mercy upon them.
12 He saw and perceived their end to be evil; therefore He multiplied His compassion.
13 The mercy of man is toward his neighbor, but the mercy of the Lord is upon all flesh. He reproveth and nurtureth and teacheth and bringeth back, as a shepherd his flock.
14 He hath mercy on them that receive discipline, and that diligently seek after His judgments.
15 My son, blemish not thy good deeds, neither use uncomforting words when thou givest any thing.
16 Shall not the dew assuage the heat? So is a word better than a gift.
17 Lo, is not a word better than a gift? But both are with a gracious man.
18 A fool will upbraid churlishly, and a gift of the envious consumeth the eyes.
Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved.