Sirach 44

NEW JERUSALEM	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 Next let us praise il ustrious men, our ancestors in their successive generations.	1 Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers that begat us.
2 The Lord has created an abundance of glory, and displayed his greatness from earliest times.	2 The Lord hath wrought great glory by them through his great power from the beginning.
3 Some wielded authority as kings and were renowned for their strength; others were intel igent advisersand uttered prophetic sayings.	3 Such as did bear rule in their kingdoms, men renowned for their power, giving counsel by their understanding, and declaring prophecies:
4 Others directed the people by their advice, by their understanding of the popular mind, and by the wisewords of their teaching;	4 Leaders of the people by their counsels, and by their knowledge of learning meet for the people, wise and eloquent are their instructions:
5 others composed musical melodies and set down bal ads;	5 Such as found out musical tunes, and recited verses in writing:
6 others were rich and powerful, living peaceful y in their homes.	6 Rich men furnished with ability, living peaceably in their habitations:
7 Al these were honoured by their contemporaries and were the glory of their day.	7 All these were honoured in their generations, and were the glory of their times.
8 Some of them left a name behind them, so that their praises are stil sung.	8 There be of them, that have left a name behind them, that their praises might be reported.
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 And some there be, which have no memorial; who are perished, as though they had never been; and are become as though they had never been born; and their children after them.
10 But here is a list of il ustrious men whose good works have not been forgotten.	10 But these were merciful men, whose righteousness hath not been forgotten.
11 In their descendants they find a rich inheritance, their posterity.	11 With their seed shall continually remain a good inheritance, and their children are within the covenant.
12 Their descendants stand by the commandments and, thanks to them, so do their children's children.	12 Their seed standeth fast, and their children for their sakes.
13 Their offspring wil last for ever, their glory will not fade.	13 Their seed shall remain for ever, and their glory shall not be blotted out.
14 Their bodies have been buried in peace, and their name lives on for al generations.	14 Their bodies are buried in peace; but their name liveth for evermore.
15 The peoples will proclaim their wisdom, the assembly wil celebrate their praises.	15 The people will tell of their wisdom, and the congregation will shew forth their praise.
16 Enoch pleased the Lord and was transferred to heaven, an example for the conversion of algenerations.	16 Enoch pleased the Lord, and was translated, being an example of repentance to all generations.
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 perfect and righteous; in the time of wrath he was taken in exchange [for the world;] therefore was he left as a remnant unto the earth, when the flood came.
18 Everlasting covenants were made with him that never again should every living creature perish byflood.	18 An everlasting covenant was made with him, that all flesh should perish no more by the flood.
19 Abraham, the great ancestor of a host of nations, no one was ever his equal in glory.	19 Abraham was a great father of many people: in glory was there none like unto him;
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 Who kept the law of the most High, and was in covenant with him: he established the covenant in his flesh; and when he was proved, he was found faithful.
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 Therefore he assured him by an oath, that he would bless the nations in his seed, and that he would multiply him as the dust of the earth, and exalt his seed as the stars, and cause them to inherit from sea to sea, and from the river unto the utmost part of the land.
22 To Isaac too, for the sake of Abraham his father, he assured	22 With Isaac did he establish likewise [for Abraham his father's sake] the blessing of all men, and the covenant, And made it rest upon the head of Jacob. He acknowledged him in his blessing, and gave him an heritage, and divided his portions; among the twelve tribes did he part them.
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 []