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17:1  Then the Lord formed human beings from the dust and sent each of them back to it again.
17:2  He gave them only a limited time to live, but he gave them authority over everything on earth.
17:3  He made them to be like himself, and gave them his own strength.
17:4  He made all other creatures afraid of them; he gave them authority over all the animals and birds.
17:6  He gave them their tongues, their eyes, their ears, their minds, and their consciences.
17:7  He filled them with knowledge and understanding and showed them the difference between good and evil.
17:8  He gave them his own insight to let them see the majesty of his creation.
17:10  They will praise his holy name and proclaim the greatness of all he does.
17:11  He made knowledge available to them and gave them the Law as a source of life.
17:12  He made an eternal covenant with them and revealed his commands to them.
17:13  They saw the splendor of his majesty and heard the glory of his voice.
17:14  He warned them against unrighteousness and taught each person how to treat others.
17:15  The Lord is always aware of what people do; there is no way to hide from him.
17:17  He gave each nation its own ruler, but Israel is the Lord's own possession.
17:19  The Lord is always watching what people do; everything they do is as clear as day to him.
17:20  None of their sins are hidden from him; he is aware of them all.
17:22  When we give to the poor, the Lord considers it as precious as a valuable ring. Human kindness is as precious to him as life itself.
17:23  Later he will judge the wicked and punish them; they will get what they deserve.
17:24  But the Lord will allow those who repent to return to him. He always gives encouragement to those who are losing hope.
17:25  Come to the Lord, and leave your sin behind. Pray sincerely that he will help you live a better life.
17:26  Return to the Most High and turn away from sin. Have an intense hatred for wickedness.
17:27  Those who are alive can give thanks to the Lord, but can anyone in the world of the dead sing praise to the Most High?
17:28  A person who is alive and well can sing the Lord's praises, but the dead, who no longer exist, have no way to give him thanks.
17:29  How great is the Lord's merciful forgiveness of those who turn to him!
17:30  But this is not the nature of human beings; not one of us is immortal.
17:31  Nothing is brighter than the sun, but even the sun's light fails during an eclipse. How much easier it is for human thoughts to be eclipsed by evil!