Sirach 44

¹Let us praise the men of glory, and our ancestors in their generation.

²The Lord has wrought great glory, by his own magnificence, from ancient times.

³There 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.

⁴And there are those who rule over the present generation, by the virtue of prudence, with very holy words for the people.

⁵There are those who, by their skill, compose musical themes, so as to set the verses of Scripture to music.

⁶There are men rich in virtue, who make a study of beauty, who live in peacefulness in their houses.

⁷All these obtained glory in their generations, and they had praise in their days.

⁸They left behind a name for those who were born of them, so that their praises might be described.

⁹But 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.

¹⁰But these were men of mercy, whose pious deeds have not failed.

¹¹Good things continue with their offspring.

¹²Their descendants are a holy inheritance, and their offspring stand firm in the covenants.

¹³And because of them, their sons remain even unto eternity. Their offspring and their glory will not be forsaken.

¹⁴Their bodies were buried in peace, and their name lives on, from generation to generation.

¹⁵Let the people declare their wisdom, and let the Church announce their praise.

¹⁶Enoch pleased God, and he was transferred to Paradise, so that he might offer repentance to the nations.

¹⁷Noah was found to be perfect and just, and so, in the time of wrath, he was made a reconciliation.

¹⁸As a result, there was a remnant left for the earth, when the great flood was made.

¹⁹The covenants of the world were placed with him, so that all flesh would not be wiped away by the great flood.

²⁰Abraham 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.

²¹In his flesh, he caused the covenant to stand, and when tested, he was found to be faithful.

²²Therefore, by an oath, he gave glory to him among his people, so as to increase him like the dust of the earth,

²³and 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.

²⁴And he acted in like manner toward Isaac, because of his father Abraham.

²⁵The Lord gave the blessing of all the nations to him, and he confirmed his covenant upon the head of Jacob.

²⁶He acknowledged him in his blessings, and he gave an inheritance to him, and he distributed to him the portion of the twelve tribes.

²⁷And he preserved for him men of mercy, who were found to have grace before the eyes of all flesh.

Sirach 44

¹Let us now praise men of renown and our fathers in their generation.

²The Lord hath wrought great glory through his magnificence from the beginning.

³Such 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,

⁴And ruling over the present people, and by the strength of wisdom instructing the people in most holy words.

⁵Such as by their skill sought out musical tunes, and published canticles of the scriptures.

⁶Rich men in virtue, studying beautifulness: living at peace in their houses.

⁷All these have gained glory in their generations, and were praised in their days.

⁸They that were born of them have left a name behind them, that their praises might be related:

⁹And 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.

¹⁰But these were men of mercy, whose godly deeds have not failed:

¹¹Good things continue with their seed,

¹²Their posterity are a holy inheritance, and their seed hath stood in the covenants.

¹³And their children for their sakes remain for ever: their seed and their glory shall not be forsaken.

¹⁴Their bodies are buried in peace, and their name liveth unto generation and generation.

¹⁵Let the people shew forth their wisdom, and the church declare their praise.

¹⁶Henoch pleased God, and was translated into paradise, that he may give repentance to the nations.

¹⁷Noe was found perfect, just, and in the time of wrath he was made a reconciliation.

¹⁸Therefore was there a remnant left to the earth, when the flood came.

¹⁹The covenants of the world were made with him, that all flesh should no more be destroyed with the flood.

²⁰Abraham 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.

²¹In his flesh he established the covenant, and in temptation he was found faithful.

²²Therefore by an oath he gave him glory in his posterity, that he should increase as the dust of the earth,

²³And 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.

²⁴And he did in like manner with Isaac for the sake of Abraham his father.

²⁵The Lord gave him the blessing of all nations, and confirmed his covenant upon the head of Jacob.

²⁶He acknowledged him in his blessings, and gave him an inheritance, and divided him his portion in twelve tribes.

²⁷And he preserved for him men of mercy, that found grace in the eyes of all flesh.