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.
23. Later he will judge the wicked and punish them; they will get what they deserve.
24. But the Lord will allow those who repent to return to him. He always gives encouragement to those who are losing hope.
25. Come to the Lord, and leave your sin behind. Pray sincerely that he will help you to live a better life.
26. Return to the Most High and turn away from sin. Have an intense hatred for wickedness.
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?
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.
29. How great is the Lord's merciful forgiveness of those who turn to him!
30. But this is not the nature of human beings; not one of us is immortal.
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!
32. The Lord can look out over all the stars in the sky. Human beings? They are dust and ashes.