Sirach 48

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 And the prophet Elijah arose like a fire, and his word burned like a torch.	1 the Lord the Almighty, and he gave strength in his right hand, to take away the mighty warrior, and to set up the horn of his nation.
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 And as the fat taken away from the flesh, so was David chosen from among the children of Israel.
3 By the word of the Lord, he closed the heavens, and he brought down fire from heaven three times.	3 He played with lions as with lambs: and with bears he did in like manner as with the lambs of the flock, in his youth.
4 In this way, Elijah was magnified in his wondrous works. So who can say that he is similar to you in glory?	4 Did not he kill the giant, and take away reproach from his people?
5 He raised up a dead man from the grave, from the fate of death, by the word of the Lord God.	5 In lifting up his hand, with the stone in the sling he beat down the boasting of Goliath:
6 He threw down kings unto perdition, and he easily shattered their power and boasting from his bed.	6 For he called upoI
7 He heeded the judgment at Sinai, and the judgments of punishment at Horeb.	7 So in ten thousand did he glorify him, and praised him in the blessings of the Lord, in offering to him a crown of glory:
8 He anointed kings unto repentance, and he chose the prophets who would follow after him.	8 For he destroyed the enemies on every side, and extirpated the Philistines the adversaries unto this day: he broke their horn for ever.
9 He was received into a whirlwind of fire, into a swift chariot with fiery horses.	9 In all his works he gave thanks to the holy one, and to the most High, with words of glory.
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 With his whole heart he praised the Lord, and loved God that made him: and he gave him power against his enemies:
11 Blessed are those who saw you, and who were adorned with your friendship.	11 And he set singers before the altar, and by their voices he made sweet melody.
12 For we live only in our life, and after death, our name will not be the same.	12 And to the festivals he added beauty, and set in order the solemn times even to the end of his life, that they should praise the holy name of the Lord, and magnify the holiness of God in the morning.
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 The Lord took away his sine, and exalted his horn for ever: and he gave him a covenant of the kingdom, and a throne of glory in Israel.
14 No word overwhelmed him, and after death, his body prophesied.	14 After him arose up a wise son, and for his sake he cast down all the power of the enemies.
15 In his life, he gave great portents, and in death, he wrought miracles.	15 Solomon reigned in days of peace, and God brought all his enemies under him, that he might build a house in his name, and prepare a sanctuary for ever: O how wise wast thou in thy youth!
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 And thou wast filled as a river with wisdom, and thy soul covered the earth.
17 And there was left behind a people very few in number, but with a leader in the house of David.	17 And thou didst multiply riddles in parables: thy name went abroad to the islands far off, and thou wast beloved in thy peace.
18 Some of these did what pleased God. But others committed many sins.	18 The countries wondered at thee for thy canticles, and proverbs, and parables, and interpretations,
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 And at the name of the Lord God, whose surname is, God of Israel.
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 Thou didst gather gold as copper, and didst multiply silver as lead,
21 Then their hearts and hands shook. And they were in pain, like women giving birth.	21 And thou didst bow thyself to women: and by thy body thou wast brought under subjection.
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 Thou hast stained thy glory, and defiled thy seed so as to bring wrath upon thy children, and to have thy folly kindled,
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 That thou shouldst make the kingdom to be divided, and out of Ephraim a rebellious kingdom to rule.
24 He threw down the army of the Assyrians, and the Angel of the Lord crushed them.	24 But God will not leave off his mercy, and he will not destroy, nor abolish his own works, neither will he out up by the roots the offspring of his elect: and he will not utterly take away the seed of him that loveth the Lord.
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 Wherefore he gave a remnant to Jacob, and to David of the same stock.
26 In his days, the sun went backwards, and he added to the king’s life.	26 And Solomon had an end with his fathers.
27 With a great spirit he saw the final things. And he consoled the mourners in Zion.	27 And he left behind him of his seed, the folly of the nation,
28 He revealed the future, even the distant future, and hidden things before they occurred.	28 Even Roboam that had little wisdom, who turned away the people through his counsel:
	29 And Jeroboam the son of Nabat, who caused Israel to sin, and shewed Ephraim the way of sin, and their sins were multiplied exceedingly.
	30 They removed them far away from their land.
	31 And they sought out all iniquities, till vengeance came upon them, and put an end to all their sine.