The Book of Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus)
Chapter 49
1 – The memory of Josias is like the composition of a sweet smell made by the art of a perfumer:
2 – His remembrance shall be sweet as honey in every mouth, and as music at a banquet of wine.
3 – He was directed by God unto the repentance of the nation, and he took away the abominations of wickedness.
4 – And he directed his heart towards the Lord, and in the days of sinners he strengthened godliness.
5 – Except David, and Ezechias, and Josias, all committed sin.
6 – For the kings of Juda forsook the law of the most High, and despised the fear of God.
7 – So they gave their kingdom to others, and their glory to a strange nation.
8 – They burnt the chosen city of holiness, and made the streets thereof desolate according to the prediction of Jeremias.
9 – For they treated him evil, who was consecrated a prophet from his mother’s womb, to overthrow, and pluck up, and destroy, and to build again, and renew.
10 – It was Ezechiel that saw the glorious vision, which was shewn him upon the chariot of cherubims.
11 – For he made mention of the enemies under the figure of rain, and of doing good to them that shewed right ways.
12 – And may the bones of the twelve prophets spring up out of their place: for they strengthened Jacob, and re- deemed themselves by strong faith.
13 – How shall we magnify Zorobabel? for he was as a signet on the right hand;
14 – In like manner Jesus the son of Josedec? who in their days built the house, and set up a holy temple to the Lord, prepared for everlasting glory.
15 – And let Nehemias be a long time remembered, who raised up for us our walls that were cast down, and set up the gates and the bars, who rebuilt our houses.
16 – No man was born upon earth like Henoch: for he also was taken up from the earth.
17 – Nor as Joseph, who was a man born prince of his brethren, the support of his family, the ruler of his brethren, the stay of the people:
18 – And his bones were visited, and after death they prophesied.
19 – Seth and Sem obtained glory among men: and above every soul Adam in the beginning.
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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.
