Sirach 44

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Let us praise the men of glory, and our ancestors in their generation.	1 Let us now praise men of renown, and our fathers in their generation.
2 The Lord has wrought great glory, by his own magnificence, from ancient times.	2 The Lord hath wrought great glory through his magnificence from the beginning.
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.	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 And there are those who rule over the present generation, by the virtue of prudence, with very holy words for the people.	4 And ruling over the present people, and by the strength of wisdom instructing the people in most holy words.
5 There are those who, by their skill, compose musical themes, so as to set the verses of Scripture to music.	5 Such as by their skill sought out musical tunes, and published canticles of the scriptures.
6 There are men rich in virtue, who make a study of beauty, who live in peacefulness in their houses.	6 Rich men in virtue, studying beautifulness: living at peace in their houses.
7 All these obtained glory in their generations, and they had praise in their days.	7 All these have gained glory in their generations, and were praised in their days.
8 They left behind a name for those who were born of them, so that their praises might be described.	8 They that were born of them have left a name behind them, that their praises might be related:
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.	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 these were men of mercy, whose pious deeds have not failed.	10 But these were men of mercy, whose godly deeds have not failed:
11 Good things continue with their offspring.	11 Good things continue with their seed,
12 Their descendents are a holy inheritance, and their offspring stand firm in the covenants.	12 Their posterity are a holy inheritance, and their seed hath stood in the covenants.
13 And because of them, their sons remain even unto eternity. Their offspring and their glory will not be forsaken.	13 And their children for their sakes remain for ever: their seed and their glory shall not be forsaken.
14 Their bodies were buried in peace, and their name lives on, from generation to generation.	14 Their bodies are buried in peace, and their name liveth unto generation and generation.
15 Let the people declare their wisdom, and let the Church announce their praise.	15 Let the people shew forth their wisdom, and the church declare their praise.
16 Enoch pleased God, and he was transferred to Paradise, so that he might offer repentance to the nations.	16 Henoch pleased God, and was translated into paradise, that he may give repentance to the nations.
17 Noah was found to be perfect and just, and so, in the time of wrath, he was made a reconciliation.	17 Noe was found perfect, just, and in the time of wrath he was made a reconciliation.
18 As a result, there was a remnant left for the earth, when the great flood was made.	18 Therefore was there a remnant left to the earth, when the flood came.
19 The covenants of the world were placed with him, so that all flesh would not be wiped away by the great flood.	19 The covenants of the world were made with him, that all flesh should no more be destroyed with the hood.
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.	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 In his flesh, he caused the covenant to stand, and when tested, he was found to be faithful.	21 In his flesh he established the covenant, and in temptation he was found faithful.
22 Therefore, by an oath, he gave glory to him among his people, so as to increase him like the dust of the earth,	22 Therefore by an oath he gave him glory in his posterity, that he should increase as the dust of the earth,
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.	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 acted in like manner toward Isaac, because of his father Abraham.	24 And he did in like manner with Isaac for the sake of Abraham his father.
25 The Lord gave the blessing of all the nations to him, and he confirmed his covenant upon the head of Jacob.	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 he gave an inheritance to him, and he distributed to him the portion of the twelve tribes.	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, who were found to have grace before the eyes of all flesh.	27 And he preserved for him men of mercy, that found grace in the eyes of all flesh.