44 Let us now sing the praises of famous men,
    our ancestors in their generations.
² The Lord apportioned to them^[b] great glory,
    his majesty from the beginning.
³ There were those who ruled in their kingdoms
    and made a name for themselves by their strength;
those who gave counsel because they were intelligent;
    those who spoke in prophetic oracles;^(A)
4 those who led the people by their counsels
    and by their knowledge of the people’s lore;
    they were wise in their words of instruction;
⁵ those who composed musical tunes
    or put verses in writing;^(B)
6 rich men endowed with resources,
    living peacefully in their homes—
⁷ all these were honored in their generations
    and were the pride of their times.
⁸ Some of them have left behind a name,
    so that others declare their praise.
⁹ But of others there is no memory;
    they have perished as though they had never existed;
they have become as though they had never been born,
    they and their children after them.^(C)
10 But these also were men of compassion
    whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten;

¹³ Their offspring will continue forever,
    and their glory will never be blotted out.^(A)
14 Their bodies are buried in peace,
    but their name lives on generation after generation.^(B)