Sirach 49

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW JERUSALEM
1 The memory of Josiah is like a blend of fragrances composed by the work of a perfumer.	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.
2 His remembrance will be sweet like honey in every mouth, and like music at a banquet of wine.	2 He took the right course, of converting the people, he rooted out the iniquitous abominations,
3 He was divinely directed for the repentance of the nation, and he took away the abominations of impiety.	3 he set his heart on the Lord, in godless times he upheld the cause of religion.
4 And he guided his heart toward the Lord. And during the days of sinners, he strengthened piety.	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;
5 Other than David, and Hezekiah, and Josiah, everyone committed sin.	5 for they handed their power over to others and their honour to a foreign nation.
6 For the kings of Judah abandoned the law of the Most High, and they held contempt for the fear of God.	6 The holy, chosen city was burnt down, her streets were left deserted,
7 For they gave their kingdom to foreigners, and their glory to a strange people.	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.
8 They set fire to the chosen city of sanctity, and they made its streets desolate, in accord with the hand of Jeremiah.	8 Ezekiel saw a vision of glory which God showed to him above the chariot of the great winged creatures,
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 for he mentioned the enemies in the downpour to the advantage of those who fol ow the right way.
10 It was Ezekiel who saw a vision of glory, which was revealed to him with the chariot of the Cherubim.	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.
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 How shal we extol Zerubbabel? He was like a signet ring on the right hand,
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 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.
13 How will we magnify Zerubbabel? For he, too, was like a signet on the right hand.	13 Great too is the memory of Nehemiah, who rebuilt our wal s which lay in ruins, erected the boltedgates and rebuilt our houses.
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 one else has ever been created on earth to equal Enoch, for he was taken up from earth.
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 And no one else ever born has been like Joseph, the leader of his brothers, the prop of his people; hisbones received a visitation.
16 No one has been born upon the earth like Enoch. And he was also taken up from the earth.	16 Shem and Seth were the most honoured of men, but above every living creature is Adam.
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.