Sirach 44:1-15

Good News Translation

44 So let us now give praise to godly^[a] men,
    our ancestors of generations past,
² those whom the Lord honored with great glory,
    in whom his greatness has been seen
    from the beginning of time.
³ There were some who ruled kingdoms,
    and some who were known for their strength.
Some were wise advisers,
    and some spoke prophecies.
⁴ There were statesmen whose policies governed the people,
    rulers who issued decrees,^[b]
    scholars who spoke wise words,^[c]
    and those who used pointed proverbs,^[d]
5     poets, and composers of music,
⁶     rich and powerful men living peacefully at home.
⁷ All of these were famous in their own times,
    honored by the people of their day.
⁸ Some of them left a reputation,
    and people still praise them today.
⁹ There are others who are not remembered,
    as if they had never lived,
    who died and were forgotten,
    they, and their children after them.
¹⁰ But we will praise these godly men,
    whose righteous deeds have never been forgotten.
¹¹ Their reputations will be passed on to their descendants,
    and this will be their inheritance.^[e]
12 Their descendants continue to keep the covenant
    and always will, because of what their ancestors did.
¹³ Their family line will go on forever,
    and their fame will never fade.
¹⁴ Their bodies were laid to rest,
    but their reputations will live forever.
¹⁵ Nations will tell about their wisdom,
    and God's people will praise them.