Sirach 49

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 The memory of Josiah is like blended incense prepared by the perfumer's art; it is as sweet as honey toal mouths, and like music at a wine feast.	1 The memory of Josiah is like a blend of fragrances composed by the work of a perfumer.
2 He took the right course, of converting the people, he rooted out the iniquitous abominations,	2 His remembrance will be sweet like honey in every mouth, and like music at a banquet of wine.
3 he set his heart on the Lord, in godless times he upheld the cause of religion.	3 He was divinely directed for the repentance of the nation, and he took away the abominations of impiety.
4 Apart from David, Hezekiah and Josiah, they al heaped wrong on wrong, they abandoned the Law ofthe Most High: the kings of Judah disappeared;	4 And he guided his heart toward the Lord. And during the days of sinners, he strengthened piety.
5 for they handed their power over to others and their honour to a foreign nation.	5 Other than David, and Hezekiah, and Josiah, everyone committed sin.
6 The holy, chosen city was burnt down, her streets were left deserted,	6 For the kings of Judah abandoned the law of the Most High, and they held contempt for the fear of God.
7 as Jeremiah had predicted; for they had il -treated him, though consecrated a prophet in his mother'swomb, to tear up and afflict and destroy, but also to build up and to plant.	7 For they gave their kingdom to foreigners, and their glory to a strange people.
8 Ezekiel saw a vision of glory which God showed to him above the chariot of the great winged creatures,	8 They set fire to the chosen city of sanctity, and they made its streets desolate, in accord with the hand of Jeremiah.
9 for he mentioned the enemies in the downpour to the advantage of those who fol ow the right way.	9 For they treated him wickedly, though he was consecrated as a prophet from his mother’s womb: to overthrow, and to root out, and to destroy, and also to rebuild and to renew.
10 As for the twelve prophets, may their bones flower again from the tomb, since they have comfortedJacob and redeemed him in faith and hope.	10 It was Ezekiel who saw a vision of glory, which was revealed to him with the chariot of the Cherubim.
11 How shal we extol Zerubbabel? He was like a signet ring on the right hand,	11 For it called to mind the enemies under the figure of rain, to do good to those who have revealed the upright ways.
12 so too was Joshua son of Jozadak; they who in their days built the Temple and raised a sanctuarysacred to the Lord, destined to everlasting glory.	12 And may the bones of the twelve prophets spring up from their place. For they strengthened Jacob, and they redeemed themselves with a virtuous faith.
13 Great too is the memory of Nehemiah, who rebuilt our wal s which lay in ruins, erected the boltedgates and rebuilt our houses.	13 How will we magnify Zerubbabel? For he, too, was like a signet on the right hand.
14 No one else has ever been created on earth to equal Enoch, for he was taken up from earth.	14 So also was Jesus, the son of Jozadak, who in their days built the house, and raised up a holy temple to the Lord, as a preparation for everlasting glory.
15 And no one else ever born has been like Joseph, the leader of his brothers, the prop of his people; hisbones received a visitation.	15 And may Nehemiah be remembered for a long time. He raised up for us the walls that had been torn down. And he made firm the gates and the bars. He raised up our houses.
16 Shem and Seth were the most honoured of men, but above every living creature is Adam.	16 No one has been born upon the earth like Enoch. And he was also taken up from the earth.
	17 And there was no one like Joseph, who was a man born to be foremost among his brothers, the firmament of his clan, a guide to his brethren, the mainstay of his people.
	18 And his bones were visited, and after death, they prophesied.
	19 Shem and Seth obtained glory among men. And above every soul, at the very beginning, was Adam.