Sirach 48:1-14

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

48 Then Elijah arose, a prophet like fire,
    and his word burned like a torch.
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.
⁴ How glorious you were, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds!
    Whose glory is equal to yours?
⁵ You raised a corpse from death
    and from Hades, by the word of the Most High.
⁶ You sent kings down to destruction,
    and famous men, from their sickbeds.
⁷ You heard rebuke at Sinai
    and judgments of vengeance at Horeb.
⁸ You anointed kings to inflict retribution,
    and prophets to succeed you.^[a]
9 You were taken up by a whirlwind of fire,
    in a chariot with horses of fire.
¹⁰ At the appointed time, it is written, you are destined^[b]
    to calm the wrath of God before it breaks out in fury,
to turn the hearts of parents to their children,
    and to restore the tribes of Jacob.
¹¹ Happy are those who saw you
    and were adorned^[c] with your love!
    For we also shall surely live.^[d]

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.^[e]
Never in his lifetime did he tremble before any ruler,
    nor could anyone intimidate him at all.
¹³ Nothing was too hard for him,
    and when he was dead, his body prophesied.
¹⁴ In his life he did wonders,
    and in death his deeds were marvelous.