Sirach 49

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

⁴ Except David and Hezeki′ah and Josi′ah
    they all sinned greatly,
for they forsook the law of the Most High;
    the kings of Judah came to an end;
⁵ for they gave their power to others,
    and their glory to a foreign nation,
⁶ who set fire to the chosen city of the sanctuary,
    and made her streets desolate,
    according to the word^[a] of Jeremiah.
⁷ For they had afflicted him;
    yet he had been consecrated in the womb as prophet,
to pluck up and afflict and destroy,
    and likewise to build and to plant.

⁸ It was Ezekiel who saw the vision of glory
    which God^[b] showed him above the chariot of the cherubim.
⁹ For God^[c] remembered his enemies with storm,
    and did good to those who directed their ways aright.^[d]

¹⁰ May the bones of the twelve prophets
    revive from where they lie,
for they comforted the people of Jacob
    and delivered them with confident hope.

¹¹ How shall we magnify Zerub′babel?
    He was like a signet on the right hand,
¹²     and so was Jeshua the son of Jo′zadak;
in their days they built the house
    and raised a temple^[e] holy to the Lord,
    prepared for everlasting glory.
¹³ The memory of Nehemi′ah also is lasting;
    he raised for us the walls that had fallen,
and set up the gates and bars
    and rebuilt our ruined houses.