Sirach 49

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW JERUSALEM
1 And Elias the prophet stood up, as a fire, and his word burnt like a torch.	1 The memory of Josiah is like blended incense prepared by the perfumer's art; it is as sweet as honey toal mouths, and like music at a wine feast.
2 He brought a famine upon them, and they that provoked him in their envy, were reduced to a small number, for they could not endure the commandments of the Lord.	2 He took the right course, of converting the people, he rooted out the iniquitous abominations,
3 By the word of the Lord he shut up the heaven, and he brought down fire from heaven thrice.	3 he set his heart on the Lord, in godless times he upheld the cause of religion.
4 Thus was Elias magnified in his wondrous works. And who can glory like to thee?	4 Apart from David, Hezekiah and Josiah, they al heaped wrong on wrong, they abandoned the Law ofthe Most High: the kings of Judah disappeared;
5 Who raisedst up a dead man from below, from the lot of death, by the word of the Lord God.	5 for they handed their power over to others and their honour to a foreign nation.
6 Who broughtest down kings to destruction, and brokest easily their power in pieces, and the glorious from their bed.	6 The holy, chosen city was burnt down, her streets were left deserted,
7 Who heardest judgment in Sina, and in Horeb the judgments of vengeance.	7 as Jeremiah had predicted; for they had il -treated him, though consecrated a prophet in his mother'swomb, to tear up and afflict and destroy, but also to build up and to plant.
8 Who anointedst kings to penance, and madest prophets successors after thee.	8 Ezekiel saw a vision of glory which God showed to him above the chariot of the great winged creatures,
9 Who wast taken up in a whirlwind of fire, in a chariot of fiery horses.	9 for he mentioned the enemies in the downpour to the advantage of those who fol ow the right way.
10 Who art registered in the judgments of times to appease the wrath of the Lord, to reconcile the heart of the father to the son, and to restore the tribes of Jacob.	10 As for the twelve prophets, may their bones flower again from the tomb, since they have comfortedJacob and redeemed him in faith and hope.
11 Blessed are they that saw thee, and were honoured with thy friendship.	11 How shal we extol Zerubbabel? He was like a signet ring on the right hand,
12 For we live only in our life, but after death our name shall not be such.	12 so too was Joshua son of Jozadak; they who in their days built the Temple and raised a sanctuarysacred to the Lord, destined to everlasting glory.
13 Elias was indeed covered with the whirlwind, and his spirit was filled up in Eliseus: in his days he feared not the prince, and no man was more powerful than he.	13 Great too is the memory of Nehemiah, who rebuilt our wal s which lay in ruins, erected the boltedgates and rebuilt our houses.
14 No word could overcome him, and after death his body prophesied.	14 No one else has ever been created on earth to equal Enoch, for he was taken up from earth.
15 In his life he did great wonders, and is death he wrought miracles.	15 And no one else ever born has been like Joseph, the leader of his brothers, the prop of his people; hisbones received a visitation.
16 For all this the people repented not, neither did they depart from their sins till they were cast out of their land, and were scattered through all the earth.	16 Shem and Seth were the most honoured of men, but above every living creature is Adam.
17 And there was left but a small people, and a prince in the house of David.
18 Some of these did that which pleased God: but others committed many sine.
19 Ezechias fortified his city, and brought in water into the midst thereof, and he digged a rock with iron, and made a well for water.
20 In his days Sennacherib came up, and sent Rabsaces, and lifted up his hand against them, and he stretched out his hand against Sion, and became proud through his power.
21 Then their hearts and hands trembled, and they were in pain as women in travail.
22 And they called upon the Lord who is merciful, and spreading their hands, they lifted them up to heaven: and the holy Lord God quickly heard their voice.
23 He was not mindful of their sins, neither did he deliver them up to their enemies, but he purified them by the hand of Isaias, the holy prophet.
24 He overthrew the army of the Assyrians, and the angel of the Lord destroyed them.
25 For Ezechias did that which pleased God, and walked valiantly in the way of David his father, which Isaias, the great prophet, and faithful in the sight of God, had commanded him.
26 In his days the sun went backward, and he lengthened the king's life.
27 With a great spirit he saw the things that are to come to pass at last, and comforted the mourners in Sion.
28 He shewed what should come to pass for ever, and secret things before they came.