Sirach 48

NEW JERUSALEM	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 Then the prophet Elijah arose like a fire, his word flaring like a torch.	1 Then stood up Elias the prophet as fire, and his word burned like a lamp.
2 It was he who brought famine on them and decimated them in his zeal.	2 He brought a sore famine upon them, and by his zeal he diminished their number.
3 By the word of the Lord he shut up the heavens, three times also he brought down fire.	3 By the word of the Lord he shut up the heaven, and also three times brought down fire.
4 How glorious you were in your miracles, Elijah! Has anyone reason to boast as you have? -	4 O Elias, how wast thou honoured in thy wondrous deeds! and who may glory like unto thee!
5 rousing a corpse from death, from Sheol, by the word of the Most High;	5 Who didst raise up a dead man from death, and his soul from the place of the dead, by the word of the most High:
6 dragging kings down to destruction, and high dignitaries from their beds;	6 Who broughtest kings to destruction, and honorable men from their bed:
7 hearing a rebuke on Sinai and decrees of punishment on Horeb;	7 Who heardest the rebuke of the Lord in Sinai, and in Horeb the judgment of vengeance:
8 anointing kings as avengers, and prophets to succeed you;	8 Who annointedst kings to take revenge, and prophets to succeed after him:
9 taken up in the whirlwind of fire, in a chariot with fiery horses;	9 Who was taken up in a whirlwind of fire, and in a chariot of fiery horses:
10 designated in the prophecies of doom to allay God's wrath before the fury breaks, to turn the hearts offathers towards their children, and to restore the tribes of Jacob.	10 Who wast ordained for reproofs in their times, to pacify the wrath of the Lord's judgment, before it brake forth into fury, and to turn the heart of the father unto the son, and to restore the tribes of Jacob.
11 Blessed, those who wil see you, and those who have fal en asleep in love; for we too shal certainlyhave life.	11 Blessed are they that saw thee, and slept in love; for we shall surely live.
12 Such was Elijah, who was enveloped in a whirlwind; and Elisha was fil ed with his spirit; throughout hislife no ruler could shake him, and no one could subdue him.	12 Elias it was, who was covered with a whirlwind: and Eliseus was filled with his spirit: whilst he lived, he was not moved with the presence of any prince, neither could any bring him into subjection.
13 No task was too hard for him, and even in death his body prophesied.	13 No word could overcome him; and after his death his body prophesied.
14 In his lifetime he performed wonders, and in death his works were marvel ous.	14 He did wonders in his life, and at his death were his works marvellous.
15 Despite al this the people did not repent, nor did they give up their sins, until they were herded out oftheir country and scattered al over the earth;	15 For all this the people repented not, neither departed they from their sins, till they were spoiled and carried out of their land, and were scattered through all the earth: yet there remained a small people, and a ruler in the house of David:
16 only a few of the people were left, with a ruler of the House of David. Some of them did what pleasedthe Lord, others piled sin on sin.	16 Of whom some did that which was pleasing to God, and some multiplied sins.
17 Hezekiah fortified his city, and laid on a water-supply inside it; with iron he tunnelled through the rockand constructed storage-tanks.	17 Ezekias fortified his city, and brought in water into the midst thereof: he digged the hard rock with iron, and made wells for waters.
18 In his days Sennacherib invaded and sent Rabshakeh; he lifted his hand against Zion, and boastedloudly in his arrogance.	18 In his time Sennacherib came up, and sent Rabsaces, and lifted up his hand against Sion, and boasted proudly.
19 Then their hearts and hands trembled, they felt the pangs of a woman in labour,	19 Then trembled their hearts and hands, and they were in pain, as women in travail.
20 but they cal ed on the merciful Lord, stretching out their hands towards him. Swiftly the Holy Oneheard them from heaven and delivered them by the agency of Isaiah;	20 But they called upon the Lord which is merciful, and stretched out their hands toward him: and immediately the Holy One heard them out of heaven, and delivered them by the ministry of Esay.
21 he struck the camp of the Assyrians and his Angel annihilated them.	21 He smote the host of the Assyrians, and his angel destroyed them.
22 For Hezekiah did what is pleasing to the Lord, and was steadfast in the ways of David his father,enjoined on him by the prophet Isaiah, a great man trustworthy in his vision.	22 For Ezekias had done the thing that pleased the Lord, and was strong in the ways of David his father, as Esay the prophet, who was great and faithful in his vision, had commanded him.
23 In his days the sun moved back; he prolonged the life of the king.	23 In his time the sun went backward, and he lengthened the king's life.
24 In the power of the spirit he saw the last things, he comforted the mourners of Zion,	24 He saw by an excellent spirit what should come to pass at the last, and he comforted them that mourned in Sion.
25 he revealed the future to the end of time, and hidden things long before they happened.	25 He shewed what should come to pass for ever, and secret things or ever they came.