1 μνημοσυνον ιωσιου εις συνθεσιν θυμιαματος εσκευασμενον εργω μυρεψου εν παντι στοματι ως μελι γλυκανθησεται και ως μουσικα εν συμποσιω οινου | 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 αυτος κατευθυνθη εν επιστροφη λαου και εξηρεν βδελυγματα ανομιας | 2 He took the right course, of converting the people, he rooted out the iniquitous abominations, |
3 κατευθυνεν προς κυριον την καρδιαν αυτου εν ημεραις ανομων κατισχυσεν την ευσεβειαν | 3 he set his heart on the Lord, in godless times he upheld the cause of religion. |
4 παρεξ δαυιδ και εζεκιου και ιωσιου παντες πλημμελειαν επλημμελησαν κατελιπον γαρ τον νομον του υψιστου οι βασιλεις ιουδα εξελιπον | 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 εδωκαν γαρ το κερας αυτων ετεροις και την δοξαν αυτων εθνει αλλοτριω | 5 for they handed their power over to others and their honour to a foreign nation. |
6 ενεπυρισαν εκλεκτην πολιν αγιασματος και ηρημωσαν τας οδους αυτης | 6 The holy, chosen city was burnt down, her streets were left deserted, |
7 εν χειρι ιερεμιου εκακωσαν γαρ αυτον και αυτος εν μητρα ηγιασθη προφητης εκριζουν και κακουν και απολλυειν ωσαυτως οικοδομειν και καταφυτευειν | 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 ιεζεκιηλ ος ειδεν ορασιν δοξης ην υπεδειξεν αυτω επι αρματος χερουβιν | 8 Ezekiel saw a vision of glory which God showed to him above the chariot of the great winged creatures, |
9 και γαρ εμνησθη των εχθρων εν ομβρω και αγαθωσαι τους ευθυνοντας οδους | 9 for he mentioned the enemies in the downpour to the advantage of those who fol ow the right way. |
10 και των δωδεκα προφητων τα οστα αναθαλοι εκ του τοπου αυτων παρεκαλεσαν γαρ τον ιακωβ και ελυτρωσαντο αυτους εν πιστει ελπιδος | 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 πως μεγαλυνωμεν τον ζοροβαβελ και αυτος ως σφραγις επι δεξιας χειρος | 11 How shal we extol Zerubbabel? He was like a signet ring on the right hand, |
12 ουτως ιησους υιος ιωσεδεκ οι εν ημεραις αυτων ωκοδομησαν οικον και ανυψωσαν ναον αγιον κυριω ητοιμασμενον εις δοξαν αιωνος | 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 και νεεμιου επι πολυ το μνημοσυνον του εγειραντος ημιν τειχη πεπτωκοτα και στησαντος πυλας και μοχλους και ανεγειραντος τα οικοπεδα ημων | 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 ουδεις εκτισθη επι της γης τοιουτος οιος ενωχ και γαρ αυτος ανελημφθη απο της γης | 14 No one else has ever been created on earth to equal Enoch, for he was taken up from earth. |
15 ουδε ως ιωσηφ εγεννηθη ανηρ ηγουμενος αδελφων στηριγμα λαου και τα οστα αυτου επεσκεπησαν | 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 σημ και σηθ εν ανθρωποις εδοξασθησαν και υπερ παν ζωον εν τη κτισει αδαμ | 16 Shem and Seth were the most honoured of men, but above every living creature is Adam. |