The Book of Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus)
Chapter 44
1 – Let us now praise men of renown, and our fathers in their generation.
2 – The Lord hath wrought great glory through his magnificence from the beginning.
3 – Such 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,
4 – And ruling over the present people, and by the strength of wisdom instructing the people in most holy words.
5 – Such as by their skill sought out musical tunes, and published canticles of the scriptures.
6 – Rich men in virtue, studying beautifulness: living at peace in their houses.
7 – All these have gained glory in their generations, and were praised in their days.
8 – They that were born of them have left a name behind them, that their praises might be related:
9 – And 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.
10 – But these were men of mercy, whose godly deeds have not failed:
11 – Good things continue with their seed,
12 – Their posterity are a holy inheritance, and their seed hath stood in the covenants.
13 – And their children for their sakes remain for ever: their seed and their glory shall not be forsaken.
14 – Their bodies are buried in peace, and their name liveth unto generation and generation.
15 – Let the people shew forth their wisdom, and the church declare their praise.
16 – Henoch pleased God, and was translated into paradise, that he may give repentance to the nations.
17 – Noe was found perfect, just, and in the time of wrath he was made a reconciliation.
18 – Therefore was there a remnant left to the earth, when the flood came.
19 – The covenants of the world were made with him, that all flesh should no more be destroyed with the hood.
20 – Abraham 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.
21 – In his flesh he established the covenant, and in temptation he was found faithful.
22 – Therefore by an oath he gave him glory in his posterity, that he should increase as the dust of the earth,
23 – And 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.
24 – And he did in like manner with Isaac for the sake of Abraham his father.
25 – The Lord gave him the blessing of all nations, and confirmed his covenant upon the head of Jacob.
26 – He acknowledged him in his blessings, and gave him an inheritance, and divided him his portion in twelve tribes.
27 – And he preserved for him men of mercy, that found grace in the eyes of all flesh.
The Catholic Bible Online. Scriptures are from The Douay Rheims Catholic Bible 1582-1610 a.d. Version In the Public Domain. The Douay Rheims Bible is a translation of the Bible from the Latin Vulgate into English undertaken by members of the English College, Douai in the service of the Catholic Church.