Read & explore together
God sees human conduct and remembers kindness
This wisdom passage says that God fully sees human conduct. It also says he especially remembers kindness, and that he will repay people afterwards. The verses speak carefully about both sin and mercy-shaped deeds.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
In Sirach 17:15–23, the writer gives short sayings about God’s knowledge of people, the Lord’s special claim on Israel, the visibility of human works and sins, and God’s remembrance of alms and kindness. The passage remains wisdom teaching, not a story of events.
Sirach 17:15–23Main takeaway
This passage teaches that nothing people do is hidden from the Lord, and that he remembers both wrongdoing and kindness.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Nothing is hidden from GodThe passage begins by saying human ways are always before God and cannot be hidden from his eyes.
Explanation
The passage begins by saying human ways are always before God and cannot be hidden from his eyes. This is a strong statement about God’s complete awareness. “Ways” means the paths people take in life, including conduct and choices, not merely where they walk.
02The Lord’s portionOne saying in the middle of the passage contrasts the nations with Israel. It says every nation has a ruler, but Israel is the Lord’s portion.
Explanation
One saying in the middle of the passage contrasts the nations with Israel. It says every nation has a ruler, but Israel is the Lord’s portion. In this passage, that marks Israel as belonging to the Lord in a special way. The verse states this without explaining further details here.
03Works and sins are plainly seenThe next lines repeat and strengthen the point. Human works are “as clear as the sun” before God, and his eyes are continually on their ways.
Explanation
The next lines repeat and strengthen the point. Human works are “as clear as the sun” before God, and his eyes are continually on their ways. Then the passage says iniquities and sins are not hidden from him. The repetition makes the warning unmistakable.
04Kindness is carefully keptThe tone then adds comfort as well as warning. A person’s alms are “as a signet” with God, and he keeps a person’s kindness “as the pupil of the eye”.
Explanation
The tone then adds comfort as well as warning. A person’s alms are “as a signet” with God, and he keeps a person’s kindness “as the pupil of the eye”. These word pictures show careful value and protection. The passage says God does not overlook merciful giving and kindness.
05God will repay afterwardsThe final verse looks ahead. It says that afterwards God will rise up, repay people, and give repayment upon their head.
Explanation
The final verse looks ahead. It says that afterwards God will rise up, repay people, and give repayment upon their head. In this passage, repayment matches what has been done. The verse does not erase kindness, but it also does not ignore sin.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What repeated idea in these verses shows that people cannot conceal their conduct from God?
Look for the repeated words about God’s eyes, what is before him, and what is not hidden from him in Sirach 17:15, Sirach 17:19, and Sirach 17:20.
02What does the passage say about Israel that is different from “every nation”?
Compare the two parts of Sirach 17:17 and notice the phrase “the Lord’s portion”.
03How does Sirach describe God’s memory of alms and kindness?
Pay attention to the two pictures, “as a signet” and “as the pupil of the eye”, in Sirach 17:22.
Read the Bible passages
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Sirach 17:15
15Their ways are ever before him. They will not be hidden from his eyes.
Sirach 17:17
17For every nation he appointed a ruler, but Israel is the Lord’s portion.
Sirach 17:19–20
19All their works are as clear as the sun before him. His eyes are continually upon their ways.
20Their iniquities are not hidden from him. All their sins are before the Lord.
Sirach 17:22–23
22With him the alms of a man is as a signet. He will keep a man’s kindness as the pupil of the eye.
23Afterwards he will rise up and repay them, and give their repayment upon their head.
Source passages
Source: Sirach 17 ↗Translation and source notes
Some verse numbers are represented by textual notes in World English Bible Classic. The reading below follows the text printed in the main passage.