Ecclesiasticus 44

VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Laudemus viros gloriosos, et parentes nostros in generatione sua.	1 Now will I praise those godly men, our ancestors, each in his own time:
2 Multam gloriam fecit Dominus : magnificentia sua a sæculo.	2 The abounding glory of the Most High's portion, his own part, since the days of old. Subduers of the land in kingly fashion, men of renown for their might,
3 Dominantes in potestatibus suis, homines magni virtute et prudentia sua præditi, nuntiantes in prophetis dignitatem prophetarum :	3 Or counselors in their prudence, or seers of all things in prophecy;
4 et imperantes in præsenti populo, et virtute prudentiæ populis sanctissima verba :	4 Resolute princes of the folk, and governors with their staves; Authors skilled in composition, and forgers of epigrams with their spikes;
5 in peritia sua requirentes modos musicos, et narrantes carmina Scripturarum :	5 Composers of melodious psalms, or discoursers on lyric themes;
6 homines divites in virtute, pulchritudinis studium habentes, pacificantes in domibus suis.	6 Stalwart men, solidly established and at peace in their own estates--
7 Omnes isti in generationibus gentis suæ gloriam adepti sunt, et in diebus suis habentur in laudibus.	7 All these were glorious in their time, each illustrious in his day.
8 Qui de illis nati sunt reliquerunt nomen narrandi laudes eorum.	8 Some of them have left behind a name and men recount their praiseworthy deeds;
9 Et sunt quorum non est memoria : perierunt quasi qui non fuerint : et nati sunt quasi non nati, et filii ipsorum cum ipsis.	9 But of others there is no memory, for when they ceased, they ceased. And they are as though they had not lived, they and their children after them.
10 Sed illi viri misericordiæ sunt, quorum pietates non defuerunt.	10 Yet these also were godly men whose virtues have not been forgotten;
11 Cum semine eorum permanent bona :	11 Their wealth remains in their families, their heritage with their descendants;
12 hæreditas sancta nepotes eorum, et in testamentis stetit semen eorum :	12 Through God's covenant with them their family endures, their posterity, for their sake.
13 et filii eorum propter illos usque in æternum manent : semen eorum et gloria eorum non derelinquetur.	13 And for all time their progeny will endure, their glory will never be blotted out;
14 Corpora ipsorum in pace sepulta sunt, et nomen eorum vivit in generationem et generationem.	14 Their bodies are peacefully laid away, but their name lives on and on.
15 Sapientiam ipsorum narrent populi, et laudem eorum nuntiet ecclesia.	15 At gatherings their wisdom is retold, and the assembly proclaims their praise.
16 Enoch placuit Deo, et translatus est in paradisum, ut det gentibus p?nitentiam.	16 [ENOCH walked with the LORD and was taken up, that succeeding generations might learn by his example.]
17 Noë inventus est perfectus, justus, et in tempore iracundiæ factus est reconciliatio.	17 NOAH, found just and perfect, renewed the race in the time of devastation. Because of his worth there were survivors, and with a sign to him the deluge ended;
18 Ideo dimissum est reliquum terræ, cum factum est diluvium.	18 A lasting agreement was made with him, that never should all flesh be destroyed.
19 Testamenta sæculi posita sunt apud illum, ne deleri possit diluvio omnis caro.	19 ABRAHAM, father of many peoples, kept his glory without stain:
20 Abraham magnus pater multitudinis gentium, et non est inventus similis illi in gloria : qui conservavit legem Excelsi, et fuit in testamento cum illo.	20 He observed the precepts of the Most High, and entered into an agreement with him; In his own flesh he incised the ordinance, and when tested he was found loyal.
21 In carne ejus stare fecit testamentum, et in tentatione inventus est fidelis.	21 For this reason, God promised him with an oath that in his descendants the nations would be blessed, That he would make him numerous as the grains of dust, and exalt his posterity like the stars; That he would give them an inheritance from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.
22 Ideo jurejurando dedit illi gloriam in gente sua, crescere illum quasi terræ cumulum,	22 And for ISAAC he renewed the same promise because of Abraham, his father. The covenant with all his forebears was confirmed, and the blessing rested upon the head of JACOB.
23 et ut stellas exaltare semen ejus, et hæreditare illos a mari usque ad mare, et a flumine usque ad terminos terræ.	23 God acknowledged him as the first-born, and gave him his inheritance. He fixed the boundaries for his tribes, and their division into twelve.
24 Et in Isaac eodem modo fecit, propter Abraham patrem ejus.
25 Benedictionem omnium gentium dedit illi Dominus, et testamentum confirmavit super caput Jacob.
26 Agnovit eum in benedictionibus suis, et dedit illi hæreditatem, et divisit illi partem in tribubus duodecim.
27 Et conservavit illi homines misericordiæ, invenientes gratiam in oculis omnis carnis.