Sirach 44

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Next let us praise il ustrious men, our ancestors in their successive generations.	1 Let us praise the men of glory, and our ancestors in their generation.
2 The Lord has created an abundance of glory, and displayed his greatness from earliest times.	2 The Lord has wrought great glory, by his own magnificence, from ancient times.
3 Some wielded authority as kings and were renowned for their strength; others were intel igent advisersand uttered prophetic sayings.	3 There are those who rule with their authority, men of great virtue, who are gifted with prudence. There are those who announce among the prophets, with 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 there are those who rule over the present generation, by the virtue of prudence, with very holy words for the people.
5 others composed musical melodies and set down bal ads;	5 There are those who, by their skill, compose musical themes, so as to set the verses of Scripture to music.
6 others were rich and powerful, living peaceful y in their homes.	6 There are men rich in virtue, who make a study of beauty, who live in peacefulness in their houses.
7 Al these were honoured by their contemporaries and were the glory of their day.	7 All these obtained glory in their generations, and they had praise in their days.
8 Some of them left a name behind them, so that their praises are stil sung.	8 They left behind a name for those who were born of them, so that their praises might be described.
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 But for some of them, there is no memorial. They have passed away as if they had never existed; and they have become as if they had never been born, and their sons along 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 pious deeds have not failed.
11 In their descendants they find a rich inheritance, their posterity.	11 Good things continue with their offspring.
12 Their descendants stand by the commandments and, thanks to them, so do their children's children.	12 Their descendents are a holy inheritance, and their offspring stand firm in the covenants.
13 Their offspring wil last for ever, their glory will not fade.	13 And because of them, their sons remain even unto eternity. Their offspring and their glory will not be forsaken.
14 Their bodies have been buried in peace, and their name lives on for al generations.	14 Their bodies were buried in peace, and their name lives on, from generation to generation.
15 The peoples will proclaim their wisdom, the assembly wil celebrate their praises.	15 Let the people declare their wisdom, and let the Church announce their praise.
16 Enoch pleased the Lord and was transferred to heaven, an example for the conversion of algenerations.	16 Enoch pleased God, and he was transferred to Paradise, so that he might offer 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 Noah was found to be perfect and just, and so, 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 As a result, there was a remnant left for the earth, when the great flood was made.
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 placed with him, so that all flesh would not be wiped away by the great flood.
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 no one was found to be like him in glory. He observed the law of the Most High, and he formed a 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 caused the covenant to stand, and when tested, he was found to be faithful.
22 To Isaac too, for the sake of Abraham his father, he assured	22 Therefore, by an oath, he gave glory to him among his people, so as to increase him like 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 to exalt his offspring like the stars, and to give an inheritance to them from sea to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.
	24 And he acted in like manner toward Isaac, because of his father Abraham.
	25 The Lord gave the blessing of all the nations to him, and he confirmed his covenant upon the head of Jacob.
	26 He acknowledged him in his blessings, and he gave an inheritance to him, and he distributed to him the portion of the twelve tribes.
	27 And he preserved for him men of mercy, who were found to have grace before the eyes of all flesh.