Sirach 44

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Now will I praise those godly men, our ancestors, each in his own time:	1 Let us now praise men of renown, and our fathers in their generation.
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,	2 The Lord hath wrought great glory through his magnificence from the beginning.
3 Or counselors in their prudence, or seers of all things in prophecy;	3 Such as have borne rule in their dominions, men of great power, and endued with their wisdom, shewing forth in the prophets the dignity of prophets,
4 Resolute princes of the folk, and governors with their staves; Authors skilled in composition, and forgers of epigrams with their spikes;	4 And ruling over the present people, and by the strength of wisdom instructing the people in most holy words.
5 Composers of melodious psalms, or discoursers on lyric themes;	5 Such as by their skill sought out musical tunes, and published canticles of the scriptures.
6 Stalwart men, solidly established and at peace in their own estates--	6 Rich men in virtue, studying beautifulness: living at peace in their houses.
7 All these were glorious in their time, each illustrious in his day.	7 All these have gained glory in their generations, and were praised in their days.
8 Some of them have left behind a name and men recount their praiseworthy deeds;	8 They that were born of them have left a name behind them, that their praises might be related:
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.	9 And there are some, of whom there is no memorial: who are perished, as if they had never been: and are become as if they had never been born, and their children with them.
10 Yet these also were godly men whose virtues have not been forgotten;	10 But these were men of mercy, whose godly deeds have not failed:
11 Their wealth remains in their families, their heritage with their descendants;	11 Good things continue with their seed,
12 Through God's covenant with them their family endures, their posterity, for their sake.	12 Their posterity are a holy inheritance, and their seed hath stood in the covenants.
13 And for all time their progeny will endure, their glory will never be blotted out;	13 And their children for their sakes remain for ever: their seed and their glory shall not be forsaken.
14 Their bodies are peacefully laid away, but their name lives on and on.	14 Their bodies are buried in peace, and their name liveth unto generation and generation.
15 At gatherings their wisdom is retold, and the assembly proclaims their praise.	15 Let the people shew forth their wisdom, and the church declare their praise.
16 [ENOCH walked with the LORD and was taken up, that succeeding generations might learn by his example.]	16 Henoch pleased God, and was translated into paradise, that he may give repentance to the nations.
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;	17 Noe was found perfect, just, and in the time of wrath he was made a reconciliation.
18 A lasting agreement was made with him, that never should all flesh be destroyed.	18 Therefore was there a remnant left to the earth, when the flood came.
19 ABRAHAM, father of many peoples, kept his glory without stain:	19 The covenants of the world were made with him, that all flesh should no more be destroyed with the hood.
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.	20 Abraham was the great father of a multitude of nations, and there was not found the like to him in glory, who kept the law of the most High, and was in covenant with him.
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.	21 In his flesh he established the covenant, and in temptation he was found faithful.
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.	22 Therefore by an oath he gave him glory in his posterity, that he should increase as the dust of the earth,
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.	23 And that he would exalt his seed as the stars, and they should inherit from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth.
	24 And he did in like manner with Isaac for the sake of Abraham his father.
	25 The Lord gave him the blessing of all nations, and confirmed his covenant upon the head of Jacob.
	26 He acknowledged him in his blessings, and gave him an inheritance, and divided him his portion in twelve tribes.
	27 And he preserved for him men of mercy, that found grace in the eyes of all flesh.