Good News Translation
but compared with all eternity, those years are like a drop of water in the ocean, like a single grain of sand.

New Revised Standard Version
Like a drop of water from the sea and a grain of sand, so are a few years among the days of eternity.

Contemporary English Version
which is a very short time when compared to forever, like a drop of ocean water or a grain of sand along a beach.

New American Bible
Like a drop of water from the sea and a grain of sand, so are these few years among the days of eternity.

Douay-Rheims Bible
He hath seen the presumption of their heart that it is wicked, and hath known their end that it is evil.

He hath seen the presumption of their heart that it is wicked, and hath known their end that it is evil.

Sirach 18:8
The number of the days of men at the most are a hundred years, as a drop of water of the sea are they esteemed: and as a pebble of the sand, so are a few years compared to eternity.

Sirach 18:9
Therefore God is patient in them, and poureth forth his mercy upon them.

Sirach 18:11
Therefore hath he filled up his mercy in their favour, and hath shewn them the way of justice.

Sirach 18:12
The compassion of man is toward his neighbour: but the mercy of God is upon all flesh.