Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 49

¹ The memory of Josiah is like blended incense prepared by the perfumer’s art; it is as sweet as honey to all mouths, and like music at a wine feast.

² He took the right course, of converting the people, he rooted out the iniquitous abominations,

³ he set his heart on the Lord, in godless times he upheld the cause of religion.

⁴ Apart from David, Hezekiah and Josiah, they all heaped wrong on wrong; since they disregarded the Law of the Most High, the kings of Judah disappeared;

⁵ since they gave their strength to others and their honour to a foreign nation.

⁶ The holy, chosen city was burnt down, her streets were left deserted,

⁷ as Jeremiah had predicted; for they had ill-treated him though consecrated a prophet in his mother’s womb to tear up and afflict and destroy, but also to build up and to plant.[*a]

⁸ Ezekiel it was who saw a vision of glory which God showed to him above the chariot of the Cherubs,

⁹ for he remembered the enemies with torrential rain[*b] to the advantage of those who follow the right way.

¹⁰ As for the twelve prophets, may their bones flower again from the tomb, since they have comforted Jacob and redeemed him in faith and hope.

¹¹ How shall we extol Zerubbabel? He was like a signet ring on the right hand,

¹² so too was Jeshua son of Jozadak; they who in their days built the Temple, and raised to the Lord a holy people, destined to everlasting glory.

¹³ Great too is the memory of Nehemiah, who rebuilt our walls which lay in ruins, erected the gates and bars and rebuilt our houses.

¹⁴ No one else has ever been created on earth to equal Enoch, for he was taken up from earth.

¹⁵ And no one else ever born has been like Joseph, the leader of his brothers, the prop of his people; his bones were honoured.

¹⁶ Shem and Seth were honoured among men, but above every living creature is Adam.