Sirach 49 - Contemporary English Version Interconfessional Edition

King Josiah

¹ The memory of Josiah is pleasant, like skillfully mixed incense or the taste of honey, or like music at a banquet where wine is served.

² He did right and led the nation to get rid of its idols and turn back to God.

³ Many had rejected God's Law, but Josiah was faithful and encouraged others to obey God.

The Prophet Jeremiah and the Evil Kings of Judah

⁴ David, Hezekiah, and Josiah were good kings, but the other kings of Judah sinned terribly and rejected the Law of God Most High. So he took away their kingdom

⁵ and gave their glorious power to foreigners

⁶ who burned down Jerusalem, the city God had chosen for his temple. The city streets lay empty, just as Jeremiah had said.

⁷ He had been chosen as a prophet before his birth and was later told to speak of doom and destruction, of rising and rebuilding. But the evil kings of Judah mistreated him.

The Prophet Ezekiel

⁸ Ezekiel saw a vision of the Lord's glory above the living creatures that were his chariot.

Job

⁹ God said that Job always did what was right.

The Twelve Prophets

¹⁰ I pray that the twelve prophets will live on in their descendants because they helped Israel stand firm during hard times by giving them hope.

Zerubbabel

¹¹ What is the best way to praise Zerubbabel? He was like a valuable ring on the Lord's right hand,

¹² as was Joshua son of Jozadak. They built a holy temple for the Lord, and it will always be famous.

Nehemiah

¹³ We should honor Nehemiah because he rebuilt the homes in Jerusalem; he repaired the city walls and put in strong new gates.

Other Great Ancestors

¹⁴ No one like Enoch has ever been born— he was taken up from earth to heaven.

¹⁵ And no one like Joseph has ever been born— he kept Israel from starving and ruled his brothers; then after his death, the people of Israel watched over his bones.

¹⁶ Shem and Seth are also honored, but of all God's creatures, Adam was the greatest.