Sirach 46

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Mighty in war was Joshua son of Nun, successor to Moses in the prophetic office, who well deservedhis name, and was a great saviour of the chosen people, wreaking vengeance on the enemies who opposedhim, and so bringing Israel into its inheritance.	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 How splendid he was when, arms uplifted, he brandished his sword against cities!	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 Who had ever shown such determination as his? He himself led the battles of the Lord.	3 What great glory he secured, by lifting up his hands and throwing his spears against the cities!
4 Was not the sun held back by his hand, and one day drawn out into two?	4 Who before him has stood so firmly? For the Lord himself led forward the enemies.
5 He called on the Most High, the Mighty One, while pressing the enemies from all directions, and thegreat Lord answered him with hard and violent hailstones.	5 Was not the sun halted by his wrath, and one day made as if two?
6 He fel on that enemy nation, and at the Descent destroyed al resistance to make the nationsacknowledge his warlike prowess and that he was waging war on behalf of the Lord.	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 For he was a fol ower of the Mighty One, in the time of Moses showing his devotion, he and Caleb sonof Jephunneh, by opposing the whole community, by preventing the people from sinning, and by silencing themutters of rebel ion.	7 He made a violent assault against a hostile nation, and at his descent, he destroyed his adversaries,
8 Hence these two alone were preserved out of six hundred thousand men on the march, and broughtinto their inheritance, into a land where milk and honey flow.	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 Lord conferred strength on Caleb too, which stayed by him into old age, so that he could investthe highlands of the country which his descendants kept as their 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 so that every Israelite might see that it is good to fol ow 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 when he was cal ed, all men whose hearts were never disloyal, who neverturned their backs on the Lord -- may their memory be 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 May their bones flourish again from the tomb, and may the names of those il ustrious men be worthilyborne by their sons!	12 This was so that all the sons of Israel would see that it is good to obey the holy God.
13 Samuel was the beloved of his Lord; prophet of the Lord, he instituted the kingdom, and anointedrulers over his 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 assembly, and the Lord watched over Jacob.	14 so that their memory might be blessed, and their bones might spring forth from their place,
15 By his loyalty he was recognised as a prophet, by his words he was known to be a trustworthy seer.	15 and their name might remain forever, continuing in their sons, holy men of glory.
16 He cal ed on the Lord, the Mighty One, when his enemies pressed in from all directions, by offering asucking 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 And the Lord thundered from heaven, and made his voice heard in a rolling peal;	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 massacred the leaders of the enemy, and all the rulers of the Philistines.	18 And he was known to be faithful in his words. For he saw the God of light.
19 Before the time of his everlasting rest he bore witness to the Lord and his anointed, 'Of no property,not even a pair of sandals, have I ever deprived a soul.' Nor did anyone accuse 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 And, having fal en asleep, he prophesied again, warning the king of his end; he spoke from the depthsof the earth in prophecy, to blot out the wickedness of the people.	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.