| 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 took the right course, of converting the people, he rooted out the iniquitous abominations, |
| 3 he set his heart on the Lord, in godless times he upheld the cause of religion. |
| 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 for they handed their power over to others and their honour to a foreign nation. |
| 6 The holy, chosen city was burnt down, her streets were left deserted, |
| 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 Ezekiel saw a vision of glory which God showed to him above the chariot of the great winged creatures, |
| 9 for he mentioned the enemies in the downpour to the advantage of those who fol ow the right way. |
| 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 How shal we extol Zerubbabel? He was like a signet ring on the right hand, |
| 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 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 one else has ever been created on earth to equal Enoch, for he was taken up from earth. |
| 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 Shem and Seth were the most honoured of men, but above every living creature is Adam. |