Sirach 48

¹And the prophet Elijah arose like a fire, and his word burned like a torch.

²He brought a famine upon them, and those who provoked him in their envy became few. For they could not bear the precepts of the Lord.

³By the word of the Lord, he closed the heavens, and he brought down fire from heaven three times.

⁴In this way, Elijah was magnified in his wondrous works. So who can say that he is similar to you in glory?

⁵He raised up a dead man from the grave, from the fate of death, by the word of the Lord God.

⁶He threw down kings unto perdition, and he easily shattered their power and boasting from his bed.

⁷He heeded the judgment at Sinai, and the judgments of punishment at Horeb.

⁸He anointed kings unto repentance, and he chose the prophets who would follow after him.

⁹He was received into a whirlwind of fire, into a swift chariot with fiery horses.

¹⁰He is written in the judgments of the times, so as to lessen the wrath of the Lord, to reconcile the heart of the father to the son, and to restore the tribes of Jacob.

¹¹Blessed are those who saw you, and who were adorned with your friendship.

¹²For we live only in our life, and after death, our name will not be the same.

¹³Certainly, Elijah was covered by the whirlwind, and his spirit was completed in Elisha. In his days, he was not fearful of the ruler, and no power defeated him.

¹⁴No word overwhelmed him, and after death, his body prophesied.

¹⁵In his life, he gave great portents, and in death, he wrought miracles.

¹⁶In all these things, the people did not repent, and they did not withdraw from their sins, even until they were cast out of their land, and were dispersed throughout all the earth.

¹⁷And there was left behind a people very few in number, but with a leader in the house of David.

¹⁸Some of these did what pleased God. But others committed many sins.

¹⁹Hezekiah fortified his city, and he brought water into its midst, and he dug into rock with iron, and he built a well for water.

²⁰In his days, Sennacherib rose up, and he sent Rabshakeh, and he lifted up his hand against them, and he extended his hand against Zion, and he became arrogant in his power.

²¹Then their hearts and hands shook. And they were in pain, like women giving birth.

²²And they called upon the merciful Lord. And they spread their hands and lifted them up to heaven. And the holy Lord God quickly heeded their voice.

²³He was not mindful of their sins, and he did not give them over to their enemies. Instead, he purified them by the hand of Isaiah, the holy prophet.

²⁴He threw down the army of the Assyrians, and the Angel of the Lord crushed them.

²⁵For Hezekiah did what pleased God, and he went with fortitude in the way of David his father, just as he had been commanded by Isaiah, a prophet great and faithful in the sight of God.

²⁶In his days, the sun went backwards, and he added to the king’s life.

²⁷With a great spirit he saw the final things. And he consoled the mourners in Zion.

²⁸He revealed the future, even the distant future, and hidden things before they occurred.

Sirach 48

¹And Elias the prophet stood up, as a fire, and his word burnt like a torch.

²He 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.

³By the word of the Lord he shut up the heaven, and he brought down fire from heaven thrice.

⁴Thus was Elias magnified in his wondrous works. And who can glory like to thee?

⁵Who raisedst up a dead man from below, from the lot of death, by the word of the Lord God.

⁶Who broughtest down kings to destruction, and brokest easily their power in pieces, and the glorious from their bed.

⁷Who heardest judgment in Sina, and in Horeb the judgments of vengeance.

⁸Who anointedst kings to penance, and madest prophets successors after thee.

⁹Who wast taken up in a whirlwind of fire, in a chariot of fiery horses.

¹⁰Who 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.

¹¹Blessed are they that saw thee, and were honoured with thy friendship.

¹²For we live only in our life, but after death our name shall not be such.

¹³Elias 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.

¹⁴No word could overcome him, and after death his body prophesied.

¹⁵In his life he did great wonders, and in death he wrought miracles.

¹⁶For 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.

¹⁷And there was left but a small people, and a prince in the house of David.

¹⁸Some of these did that which pleased God: but others committed many sins.

¹⁹Ezechias fortified his city, and brought in water into the midst thereof, and he digged a rock with iron, and made a well for water.

²⁰In 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.

²¹Then their hearts and hands trembled, and they were in pain as women in travail.

²²And 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.

²³He 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.

²⁴He overthrew the army of the Assyrians, and the angel of the Lord destroyed them.

²⁵For 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.

²⁶In his days the sun wen backward, and he lengthened the king's life.

²⁷With a great spirit he saw the things that are to come to pass at last, and comforted the mourners in Sion.

²⁸He showed what should come to pass for ever, and secret things before they came.