Sirach 48:1-16
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Elijah
48 Then Elijah arose, a prophet like fire,
and his word burned like a torch.(A)
2 He brought a famine upon them,
and by his zeal he made them few in number.
3 By the word of the Lord he shut up the heavens
and also three times brought down fire.(B)
4 How glorious you were, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds!
Who can boast[a] as you can?
5 You who raised a corpse from death
and from Hades, by the word of the Most High,(C)
6 who sent kings down to destruction
and famous men from their sickbeds,(D)
7 who heard rebuke at Sinai
and judgments of vengeance at Horeb,(E)
8 who anointed kings to inflict retribution
and prophets to succeed you,[b](F)
9 who were taken up by a whirlwind of fire
in a chariot with horses of fire,(G)
10 who were prepared at the appointed time[c]
to calm wrath before it breaks out in fury,
to turn the hearts of parents to their children
and to restore the tribes of Jacob.(H)
11 Happy are those who saw you
and were adorned[d] in love!
For we also shall surely live.[e]
Elisha
12 When Elijah was enveloped in the whirlwind,
Elisha was filled with his spirit.
He performed twice as many signs
and marvels with every utterance of his mouth.[f]
Never in his lifetime did he tremble before any ruler,
nor could anyone intimidate him at all.(I)
13 Nothing was too hard for him,[g]
and when he was dead his body prophesied.(J)
14 In his life he did wonders,
and in death his deeds were marvelous.
15 Despite all this the people did not repent,
nor did they forsake their sins,
until they were carried off as plunder from their land
and were scattered over all the earth.
The people were left very few in number
but with a ruler from the house of David.(K)
16 Some of them did what was right,
but others sinned more and more.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.