Sirach 48

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	BIBBIA CEI 1974
1 And the prophet Elijah arose like a fire, and his word burned like a torch.	1 Allora sorse Elia profeta, simile al fuoco; la sua parola bruciava come fiaccola.
2 He brought a famine upon them, and those who provoked him in their envy became few. For they could not bear the precepts of the Lord.	2 Egli fece venire su di loro la carestia e con zelo li ridusse a pochi.
3 By the word of the Lord, he closed the heavens, and he brought down fire from heaven three times.	3 Per comando del Signore chiuse il cielo, fece scendere così tre volte il fuoco.
4 In this way, Elijah was magnified in his wondrous works. So who can say that he is similar to you in glory?	4 Come ti rendesti famoso, Elia, con i prodigi! E chi può vantarsi di esserti uguale?
5 He raised up a dead man from the grave, from the fate of death, by the word of the Lord God.	5 Risvegliasti un defunto dalla morte e dagli inferi, per comando dell'Altissimo;
6 He threw down kings unto perdition, and he easily shattered their power and boasting from his bed.	6 tu che spingesti re alla rovina, uomini gloriosi dal loro letto.
7 He heeded the judgment at Sinai, and the judgments of punishment at Horeb.	7 Sentisti sul Sinai rimproveri, sull'Oreb sentenze di vendetta.
8 He anointed kings unto repentance, and he chose the prophets who would follow after him.	8 Ungesti re come vindici e profeti come tuoi successori.
9 He was received into a whirlwind of fire, into a swift chariot with fiery horses.	9 Fosti assunto in un turbine di fuoco su un carro di cavalli di fuoco,
10 He is written in the judgments of the times, so as to lessen the wrath of the Lord, to reconcile the heart of the father to the son, and to restore the tribes of Jacob.	10 designato a rimproverare i tempi futuri per placare l'ira prima che divampi, per ricondurre il cuore dei padri verso i figli e ristabilire le tribù di Giacobbe.
11 Blessed are those who saw you, and who were adorned with your friendship.	11 Beati coloro che ti videro e che si sono addormentati nell'amore! Perché anche noi vivremo certamente.
12 For we live only in our life, and after death, our name will not be the same.	12 Appena Elia fu avvolto dal turbine, Eliseo fu pieno del suo spirito; durante la sua vita non tremò davanti ai potenti e nessuno riuscì a dominarlo.
13 Certainly, Elijah was covered by the whirlwind, and his spirit was completed in Elisha. In his days, he was not fearful of the ruler, and no power defeated him.	13 Nulla fu troppo grande per lui; nel sepolcro il suo corpo profetizzò. Nella sua vita compì prodigi e dopo la morte meravigliose furono le sue opere.
14 No word overwhelmed him, and after death, his body prophesied.
15 In his life, he gave great portents, and in death, he wrought miracles.	15 Con tutto ciò il popolo non si convertì e non rinnegò i suoi peccati, finché non fu deportato dal proprio paese e disperso su tutta la terra.
16 In all these things, the people did not repent, and they did not withdraw from their sins, even until they were cast out of their land, and were dispersed throughout all the earth.	16 Rimase soltanto un popolo poco numeroso con un principe della casa di Davide. Alcuni di costoro fecero ciò che è gradito a Dio, ma altri moltiplicarono i peccati.
17 And there was left behind a people very few in number, but with a leader in the house of David.	17 Ezechia fortificò la sua città e condusse l'acqua nel suo interno; scavò con il ferro un canale nella roccia e costruì cisterne per l'acqua.
18 Some of these did what pleased God. But others committed many sins.	18 Nei suoi giorni Sennàcherib fece una spedizione e mandò il gran coppiere; egli alzò la mano contro Sion e si vantò spavaldamente con superbia.
19 Hezekiah fortified his city, and he brought water into its midst, and he dug into rock with iron, and he built a well for water.	19 Allora si agitarono loro il cuore e le mani, soffrirono come le partorienti.
20 In his days, Sennacherib rose up, and he sent Rabshakeh, and he lifted up his hand against them, and he extended his hand against Zion, and he became arrogant in his power.	20 Invocarono il Signore misericordioso, stendendo le mani verso di lui. Il Santo li ascoltò subito dal cielo e li liberò per mezzo di Isaia.
21 Then their hearts and hands shook. And they were in pain, like women giving birth.	21 Egli colpì l'accampamento degli Assiri, e il suo angelo li sterminò,
22 And they called upon the merciful Lord. And they spread their hands and lifted them up to heaven. And the holy Lord God quickly heeded their voice.	22 perché Ezechia aveva fatto quanto è gradito al Signore, e seguito con fermezza le vie di Davide suo antenato, come gli additava il profeta Isaia, grande e verace nella visione.
23 He was not mindful of their sins, and he did not give them over to their enemies. Instead, he purified them by the hand of Isaiah, the holy prophet.	23 Nei suoi giorni retrocedette il sole, egli prolungò la vita del re.
24 He threw down the army of the Assyrians, and the Angel of the Lord crushed them.	24 Con grande ispirazione vide gli ultimi tempi, e consolò gli afflitti di Sion.
25 For Hezekiah did what pleased God, and he went with fortitude in the way of David his father, just as he had been commanded by Isaiah, a prophet great and faithful in the sight of God.	25 Egli manifestò il futuro sino alla fine dei tempi, le cose nascoste prima che avvenissero.
26 In his days, the sun went backwards, and he added to the king’s life.
27 With a great spirit he saw the final things. And he consoled the mourners in Zion.
28 He revealed the future, even the distant future, and hidden things before they occurred.