Sirach 44

NEW JERUSALEM	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Next let us praise il ustrious men, our ancestors in their successive generations.	1 Let us now praise men of renown, and our fathers in their generation.
2 The Lord has created an abundance of glory, and displayed his greatness from earliest times.	2 The Lord hath wrought great glory through his magnificence from the beginning.
3 Some wielded authority as kings and were renowned for their strength; others were intel igent advisersand uttered prophetic sayings.	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 Others directed the people by their advice, by their understanding of the popular mind, and by the wisewords of their teaching;	4 And ruling over the present people, and by the strength of wisdom instructing the people in most holy words.
5 others composed musical melodies and set down bal ads;	5 Such as by their skill sought out musical tunes, and published canticles of the scriptures.
6 others were rich and powerful, living peaceful y in their homes.	6 Rich men in virtue, studying beautifulness: living at peace in their houses.
7 Al these were honoured by their contemporaries and were the glory of their day.	7 All these have gained glory in their generations, and were praised in their days.
8 Some of them left a name behind them, so that their praises are stil sung.	8 They that were born of them have left a name behind them, that their praises might be related:
9 While others have left no memory, and disappeared as though they had not existed. They are now asthough they had never been, and so too, 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 But here is a list of il ustrious men whose good works have not been forgotten.	10 But these were men of mercy, whose godly deeds have not failed:
11 In their descendants they find a rich inheritance, their posterity.	11 Good things continue with their seed,
12 Their descendants stand by the commandments and, thanks to them, so do their children's children.	12 Their posterity are a holy inheritance, and their seed hath stood in the covenants.
13 Their offspring wil last for ever, their glory will not fade.	13 And their children for their sakes remain for ever: their seed and their glory shall not be forsaken.
14 Their bodies have been buried in peace, and their name lives on for al generations.	14 Their bodies are buried in peace, and their name liveth unto generation and generation.
15 The peoples will proclaim their wisdom, the assembly wil celebrate their praises.	15 Let the people shew forth their wisdom, and the church declare their praise.
16 Enoch pleased the Lord and was transferred to heaven, an example for the conversion of algenerations.	16 Henoch pleased God, and was translated into paradise, that he may give repentance to the nations.
17 Noah was found perfectly upright, in the time of retribution he became the heir: because of him aremnant was preserved for the earth at the coming of the Flood.	17 Noe was found perfect, just, and in the time of wrath he was made a reconciliation.
18 Everlasting covenants were made with him that never again should every living creature perish byflood.	18 Therefore was there a remnant left to the earth, when the flood came.
19 Abraham, the great ancestor of a host of nations, no one was ever his equal in glory.	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 Law of the Most High, and entered into a covenant with him. He confirmed thecovenant in his own flesh, and proved himself faithful under ordeal.	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 The Lord therefore promised him on oath to bless the nations through his descendants, to multiply himlike the dust on the ground, to exalt his descendants like the stars, and to give them the land as their heritage,from one sea to the other, 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 To Isaac too, for the sake of Abraham his father, he assured	22 Therefore by an oath he gave him glory in his posterity, that he should increase as the dust of the earth,
23 the blessing of al humanity; he caused the covenant to rest on the head of Jacob. He confirmed himin his blessings and gave him the land as his inheritance; he divided it into portions, and shared it out among thetwelve tribes.	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.