Sirach 48 - Contemporary English Version Interconfessional Edition

The Prophet Elijah

¹ Earlier, God had sent the prophet Elijah to speak messages that burned like fire.

² At Elijah's command, a famine hit Israel, and many of the people died.

³ Elijah performed miracles by God's power— he held back rain from Israel and three times commanded fire to fall from heaven.

⁴ He is worthy of honor, because who else could do such amazing miracles?

⁵ By the power of God Most High he brought back life into a dead body.

⁶ But he also destroyed kings and told famous people they would die of disease.

⁷ God corrected Elijah at Mount Sinai and told him to announce that God's enemies would be punished.

⁸ So Elijah appointed kings to punish these enemies, and he appointed prophets to carry on his own work.

⁹ Then God took him to heaven in a fiery whirlwind— a chariot and horses made of fire.

¹⁰ It is written that Elijah will come at the right time, to calm God's anger before it overflows, and help parents love their children. Then Israel will be successful once again.

¹¹ Those who live until he comes will be blessed by the Lord, and God's people who have died will live again.

The Prophet Elisha

¹² When Elijah disappeared in the whirlwind, God gave Elisha the same power he had given to Elijah. Elisha wasn't afraid of kings and could not be forced to do what they wanted. *

¹³ No problem was too hard for him, and he did marvelous things.

¹⁴ Even after his death, his body caused a miracle.

¹⁵ But the northern kingdom still did not give up sinning and they did not turn to God. And so, they were captured and led away to foreign countries. The kingdom of Judah had few people, but at least they had a king from David's family.

¹⁶ Sometimes they did right, but often they sinned worse than ever.

King Hezekiah and the Prophet Isaiah

¹⁷ Hezekiah fortified Jerusalem, and using iron tools he cut a tunnel through rock to bring water in, and dug cisterns to store it.

¹⁸ During Hezekiah's rule, Sennacherib attacked Judah, and before he left, he sent his highest officer to Jerusalem. This arrogant officer boasted, making threats against Zion.

¹⁹ The people of Jerusalem trembled with fear, and they suffered like a woman giving birth.

²⁰ But they lifted up their hands and prayed to the Lord, the merciful and holy God. He heard their prayers and sent the prophet Isaiah to rescue them.

²¹ Then the Lord sent an angel, who killed all the Assyrians in their own army camp.

²² Jerusalem was saved because Hezekiah obeyed Isaiah and pleased the Lord by following the example of his ancestor King David. When this great prophet had a vision, it came true.

²³ One time, Isaiah caused the sun to move backward, and he gave a longer life to the king.

²⁴ God's Spirit gave him power to see the future, and he comforted those in Zion who were in sorrow,

²⁵ by telling them the secrets hidden in the future as far as the end of time.