Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 49 - New Revised Standard Version(NRSVCI)

Josiah and Other Worthies

1The name of Josiah is like blended incense

prepared by the skill of the perfumer;

his memory is as sweet as honey to every mouth,

and like music at a banquet of wine.

2He did what was right by reforming the people,

and removing the wicked abominations.

3He kept his heart fixed on the Lord;

in lawless times he made godliness prevail.

4Except for David and Hezekiah and Josiah,

all of them were great sinners,

for they abandoned the law of the Most High;

the kings of Judah came to an end.

5They gave their power to others,

and their glory to a foreign nation,

6who set fire to the chosen city of the sanctuary,

and made its streets desolate,

as Jeremiah had foretold.

7For they had mistreated him,

who even in the womb had been consecrated a prophet,

to pluck up and ruin and destroy,

and likewise to build and to plant.

8It was Ezekiel who saw the vision of glory,

which God showed him above the chariot of the cherubim.

9For God also mentioned Job

who held fast to all the ways of justice.

10May the bones of the Twelve Prophets

send forth new life from where they lie,

for they comforted the people of Jacob

and delivered them with confident hope.

11How shall we magnify Zerubbabel?

He was like a signet ring on the right hand,

12and so was Jeshua son of Jozadak;

in their days they built the house

and raised a temple holy to the Lord,

destined for everlasting glory.

13The memory of Nehemiah also is lasting;

he raised our fallen walls,

and set up gates and bars,

and rebuilt our ruined houses.

Retrospect

14Few have ever been created on earth like Enoch,

for he was taken up from the earth.

15Nor was anyone ever born like Joseph;

even his bones were cared for.

16Shem and Seth and Enosh were honored,

but above every other created living being was Adam.