Sirach 49

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 The memory of Josiah is like a blend of fragrances composed by the work of a perfumer.	1 And Elias the prophet stood up, as a fire, and his word burnt like a torch.
2 His remembrance will be sweet like honey in every mouth, and like music at a banquet of wine.	2 He brought a famine upon them, and they that provoked him in their envy, were reduced to a small number, for they could not endure the commandments of the Lord.
3 He was divinely directed for the repentance of the nation, and he took away the abominations of impiety.	3 By the word of the Lord he shut up the heaven, and he brought down fire from heaven thrice.
4 And he guided his heart toward the Lord. And during the days of sinners, he strengthened piety.	4 Thus was Elias magnified in his wondrous works. And who can glory like to thee?
5 Other than David, and Hezekiah, and Josiah, everyone committed sin.	5 Who raisedst up a dead man from below, from the lot of death, by the word of the Lord God.
6 For the kings of Judah abandoned the law of the Most High, and they held contempt for the fear of God.	6 Who broughtest down kings to destruction, and brokest easily their power in pieces, and the glorious from their bed.
7 For they gave their kingdom to foreigners, and their glory to a strange people.	7 Who heardest judgment in Sina, and in Horeb the judgments of vengeance.
8 They set fire to the chosen city of sanctity, and they made its streets desolate, in accord with the hand of Jeremiah.	8 Who anointedst kings to penance, and madest prophets successors after thee.
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.	9 Who wast taken up in a whirlwind of fire, in a chariot of fiery horses.
10 It was Ezekiel who saw a vision of glory, which was revealed to him with the chariot of the Cherubim.	10 Who art registered in the judgments of times to appease the wrath of the Lord, to reconcile the heart of the father to the son, and to restore the tribes of Jacob.
11 For it called to mind the enemies under the figure of rain, to do good to those who have revealed the upright ways.	11 Blessed are they that saw thee, and were honoured with thy friendship.
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.	12 For we live only in our life, but after death our name shall not be such.
13 How will we magnify Zerubbabel? For he, too, was like a signet on the right hand.	13 Elias was indeed covered with the whirlwind, and his spirit was filled up in Eliseus: in his days he feared not the prince, and no man was more powerful than he.
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.	14 No word could overcome him, and after death his body prophesied.
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.	15 In his life he did great wonders, and is death he wrought miracles.
16 No one has been born upon the earth like Enoch. And he was also taken up from the earth.	16 For all this the people repented not, neither did they depart from their sins till they were cast out of their land, and were scattered through all 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.	17 And there was left but a small people, and a prince in the house of David.
18 And his bones were visited, and after death, they prophesied.	18 Some of these did that which pleased God: but others committed many sine.
19 Shem and Seth obtained glory among men. And above every soul, at the very beginning, was Adam.	19 Ezechias fortified his city, and brought in water into the midst thereof, and he digged a rock with iron, and made a well for water.
	20 In his days Sennacherib came up, and sent Rabsaces, and lifted up his hand against them, and he stretched out his hand against Sion, and became proud through his power.
	21 Then their hearts and hands trembled, and they were in pain as women in travail.
	22 And they called upon the Lord who is merciful, and spreading their hands, they lifted them up to heaven: and the holy Lord God quickly heard their voice.
	23 He was not mindful of their sins, neither did he deliver them up to their enemies, but he purified them by the hand of Isaias, the holy prophet.
	24 He overthrew the army of the Assyrians, and the angel of the Lord destroyed them.
	25 For Ezechias did that which pleased God, and walked valiantly in the way of David his father, which Isaias, the great prophet, and faithful in the sight of God, had commanded him.
	26 In his days the sun went backward, and he lengthened the king's life.
	27 With a great spirit he saw the things that are to come to pass at last, and comforted the mourners in Sion.
	28 He shewed what should come to pass for ever, and secret things before they came.