Sirach 44

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers that begat us.	1 Now will I praise those godly men, our ancestors, each in his own time:
2 The Lord hath wrought great glory by them through his great power from the beginning.	2 The abounding glory of the Most High's portion, his own part, since the days of old. Subduers of the land in kingly fashion, men of renown for their might,
3 Such as did bear rule in their kingdoms, men renowned for their power, giving counsel by their understanding, and declaring prophecies:	3 Or counselors in their prudence, or seers of all things in prophecy;
4 Leaders of the people by their counsels, and by their knowledge of learning meet for the people, wise and eloquent are their instructions:	4 Resolute princes of the folk, and governors with their staves; Authors skilled in composition, and forgers of epigrams with their spikes;
5 Such as found out musical tunes, and recited verses in writing:	5 Composers of melodious psalms, or discoursers on lyric themes;
6 Rich men furnished with ability, living peaceably in their habitations:	6 Stalwart men, solidly established and at peace in their own estates--
7 All these were honoured in their generations, and were the glory of their times.	7 All these were glorious in their time, each illustrious in his day.
8 There be of them, that have left a name behind them, that their praises might be reported.	8 Some of them have left behind a name and men recount their praiseworthy deeds;
9 And some there be, which have no memorial; who are perished, as though they had never been; and are become as though they had never been born; and their children after them.	9 But of others there is no memory, for when they ceased, they ceased. And they are as though they had not lived, they and their children after them.
10 But these were merciful men, whose righteousness hath not been forgotten.	10 Yet these also were godly men whose virtues have not been forgotten;
11 With their seed shall continually remain a good inheritance, and their children are within the covenant.	11 Their wealth remains in their families, their heritage with their descendants;
12 Their seed standeth fast, and their children for their sakes.	12 Through God's covenant with them their family endures, their posterity, for their sake.
13 Their seed shall remain for ever, and their glory shall not be blotted out.	13 And for all time their progeny will endure, their glory will never be blotted out;
14 Their bodies are buried in peace; but their name liveth for evermore.	14 Their bodies are peacefully laid away, but their name lives on and on.
15 The people will tell of their wisdom, and the congregation will shew forth their praise.	15 At gatherings their wisdom is retold, and the assembly proclaims their praise.
16 Enoch pleased the Lord, and was translated, being an example of repentance to all generations.	16 [ENOCH walked with the LORD and was taken up, that succeeding generations might learn by his example.]
17 Noah was found perfect and righteous; in the time of wrath he was taken in exchange [for the world;] therefore was he left as a remnant unto the earth, when the flood came.	17 NOAH, found just and perfect, renewed the race in the time of devastation. Because of his worth there were survivors, and with a sign to him the deluge ended;
18 An everlasting covenant was made with him, that all flesh should perish no more by the flood.	18 A lasting agreement was made with him, that never should all flesh be destroyed.
19 Abraham was a great father of many people: in glory was there none like unto him;	19 ABRAHAM, father of many peoples, kept his glory without stain:
20 Who kept the law of the most High, and was in covenant with him: he established the covenant in his flesh; and when he was proved, he was found faithful.	20 He observed the precepts of the Most High, and entered into an agreement with him; In his own flesh he incised the ordinance, and when tested he was found loyal.
21 Therefore he assured him by an oath, that he would bless the nations in his seed, and that he would multiply him as the dust of the earth, and exalt his seed as the stars, and cause them to inherit from sea to sea, and from the river unto the utmost part of the land.	21 For this reason, God promised him with an oath that in his descendants the nations would be blessed, That he would make him numerous as the grains of dust, and exalt his posterity like the stars; That he would give them an inheritance from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.
22 With Isaac did he establish likewise [for Abraham his father's sake] the blessing of all men, and the covenant, And made it rest upon the head of Jacob. He acknowledged him in his blessing, and gave him an heritage, and divided his portions; among the twelve tribes did he part them.	22 And for ISAAC he renewed the same promise because of Abraham, his father. The covenant with all his forebears was confirmed, and the blessing rested upon the head of JACOB.
23 []	23 God acknowledged him as the first-born, and gave him his inheritance. He fixed the boundaries for his tribes, and their division into twelve.