Sirach 46

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Valiant leader was JOSHUA, son of Nun, assistant to Moses in the prophetic office, Formed to be, as his name implies, the great savior of God's chosen ones, To punish the enemy and to win the inheritance for Israel.	1 Joshua, the son of Nun, was valiant in warfare; he was the successor of Moses among the prophets. He was great in accord with his name,
2 What glory was his when he raised his arm, to brandish his javelin against the city!	2 very great in the saving the elect of God. He fought against the insurgent enemies, so that he might obtain the inheritance for Israel.
3 And who could withstand him when he fought the battles of the LORD?	3 What great glory he secured, by lifting up his hands and throwing his spears against the cities!
4 Did he not by his power stop the sun, so that one day became two?	4 Who before him has stood so firmly? For the Lord himself led forward the enemies.
5 He called upon the Most High God when his enemies beset him on all sides, And God Most High gave answer to him in hailstones of tremendous power,	5 Was not the sun halted by his wrath, and one day made as if two?
6 Which he rained down upon the hostile army till on the slope he destroyed the foe; That all the doomed nations might know that the LORD was watching over his people's battles. And because he was a devoted follower of God	6 He called upon the Most High Power, when the enemies assailed him on every side. And the great and holy God answered him with hailstones of exceedingly great force.
7 and in Moses' lifetime showed himself loyal, He and CALEB, son of Jephunneh, when they opposed the rebel assembly, Averted God's anger from the people and suppressed the wicked complaint--	7 He made a violent assault against a hostile nation, and at his descent, he destroyed his adversaries,
8 Because of this, they were the only two spared from the six hundred thousand infantry, To lead the people into their inheritance, the land flowing with milk and honey.	8 so that the nations would acknowledge his power: that it is not easy to fight against God. And he followed the Almighty.
9 And the strength he gave to Caleb remained with him even in his old age Till he won his way onto the summits of the land; his family too received an inheritance,	9 And in the days of Moses, he accomplished a work of mercy. He and Caleb, the son of Jephuneh, stood against the enemy, and forbid the people from sin, and broke their wicked murmuring.
10 That all the people of Jacob might know how good it is to be a devoted follower of the LORD.	10 And these two, having been appointed, were freed from peril, from foot soldiers numbering six hundred thousand, so as to lead them into their inheritance, into a land flowing with milk and honey.
11 The JUDGES, too, each one of them, whose hearts were not deceived, Who did not abandon God: may their memory be ever blessed,	11 And the Lord gave strength to Caleb also, and his strength remained even in his old age, so that he ascended to the high places of the land, and his offspring obtained it as an inheritance.
12 Their bones return to life from their resting place, and their names receive fresh luster in their children!	12 This was so that all the sons of Israel would see that it is good to obey the holy God.
13 Beloved of his people, dear to his Maker, dedicated from his mother's womb, Consecrated to the LORD as a prophet, was SAMUEL, the judge and priest. At God's word he established the kingdom and anointed princes to rule the people.	13 Then there were the judges, each one called by name, whose heart was not corrupted. They did not turn away from the Lord,
14 By the law of the LORD he judged the nation, when he visited the encampments of Jacob.	14 so that their memory might be blessed, and their bones might spring forth from their place,
15 As a trustworthy prophet he was sought out and his words proved him true as a seer.	15 and their name might remain forever, continuing in their sons, holy men of glory.
16 He, too, called upon God, and offered him a suckling lamb;	16 Samuel, prophet of the Lord, beloved by the Lord his God, established a new government, and he anointed leaders over his people.
17 Then the LORD thundered forth from heaven, and the tremendous roar of his voice was heard.	17 By the law of the Lord, he judged the congregation, and the God of Jacob saw it, and so, by his fidelity, he was proven to be a prophet.
18 He brought low the rulers of the enemy and destroyed all the lords of the Philistines.	18 And he was known to be faithful in his words. For he saw the God of light.
19 When Samuel approached the end of his life, he testified before the LORD and his anointed prince, "No bribe or secret gift have I taken from any man!" and no one dared gainsay him.	19 And when fighting against the enemies, who stood against him on every side, he called upon the name of the Almighty Lord, with an offering of an inviolate lamb.
20 Even when he lay buried, his guidance was sought; he made known to the king his fate, And from the grave he raised his voice as a prophet, to put an end to wickedness.	20 And the Lord thundered from heaven, and with a great noise, he made his voice to be heard.
	21 And he crushed the leaders of the Tyrians, and all the commanders of the Philistines.
	22 And before the time of the end of his life in the world, he offered testimony in the sight of the Lord and of his Christ, that he had not taken a bribe from any flesh, not even so much as a shoe, and that no man made an accusation against him.
	23 And after this, he slept. And he made known to the king and revealed to him the end of his life. And he lifted up his voice from the earth in prophecy, to abolish the impiety of the people.