Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 49
Josiah
1The memory of Josiah is as sweet as the fragrance of expertly blended incense, sweet as honey to the taste, like music with wine at a banquet. 2He followed the correct policy of reforming the nation and removed the horrors of idolatry. 3He was completely loyal to the Lord and strengthened true religion in those wicked times.
Jeremiah
4All the kings, except David, Hezekiah, and Josiah, were terrible sinners, because they abandoned the Law of the Most High to the very end of the kingdom. 5They surrendered their power and honour to foreigners, 6who set fire to the holy city and left its streets deserted, just as Jeremiah had predicted. 7Jeremiah had been badly treated, even though he was chosen as a prophet before he was born, “to uproot and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow,” but also “to build and to plant.”
Ezekiel
8It was Ezekiel who was shown the vision of the divine glory over the chariot and the living creatures. 9He also referred to the prophet Job, who always did the right thing.
The Twelve Prophets
10May the bones of the twelve prophets rise to new life, because these men encouraged the people of Israel and saved them with confident hope.
Zerubbabel and Joshua
11How can we praise Zerubbabel? He was like a signet ring on the Lord's right-hand, 12as was Joshua son of Jehozadak. They rebuilt the Lord's holy Temple, destined for eternal fame.
Nehemiah
13The memory of Nehemiah is also great. He rebuilt the ruined walls of Jerusalem, installing the gates and bars. He rebuilt our homes.
The Patriarchs
14No one else like Enoch has ever walked the face of the earth, for he was taken up from the earth. 15No one else like Joseph has ever been born; even his bones were honoured. 16Shem, Seth, and Enosh were highly honoured, but Adam's glory was above that of any other living being.
Good News Translation® with Deuterocanonicals/Apocrypha (Today’s English Version, Second Edition) © 1992 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
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