Sirach 49

Wycliffe Bible

49 The mind (or the memory) of Josiah made in the making of odour, is (like) the work of a pigment-maker. In each mouth his mind (or his memory) shall be made (as) sweet as honey, and as music [or as melody] in the feast of wine.

² He was (ad)dressed (or directed) of (or by) God in the penance of (the) folk, for he brought the people of his realm to penance for their sins, and to the worshipping of (the) very (or the true) God, and destroyed idolatry; and he took away the abominations of wickedness. [He is even right godly in the penance of (the) folk; and he took away the abominations of unpiousness.]

³ And the heart of him governed (un)to the Lord [or And he governed (un)to the Lord his heart]; and in the days of sins he strengthened piety.

⁴ Except David, Hezekiah, and Josiah, all (the) kings did sin [or Save David, Hezekiah, and Josiah, all the kings did sin]. For why the kings of Judah left the law of (the) mighty God, and despised the dread of God.

⁵ For they gave their realm to other men, and their glory to an alien folk. [Forsooth they gave their kingdom to others, and their glory to an alien folk.]

⁶ They burnt the chosen city of holiness; and they made the ways thereof forsaken [or desert(ed)] in the hand of Jeremy (or Jeremiah).

⁷ For they treated evil him, which from the womb of the mother was hallowed a prophet, to turn upside-down, and to lose, (or to destroy), and again to build (up), and make new. [For why evil they treated him, that from the womb of the mother is (made) sacred, (or consecrated), a prophet, to turn upside-down, and to lose, (or to destroy), and again to build up, and to renew.]

⁸ (It was) Ezekiel, that saw the sight of glory, which the Lord showed to him in (or on) the chariot of cherubim.

⁹ For he made mind of (the) enemies in (the) rain, that is, in (the) word of his prophecy, to do well to (or for) them, that showed rightful ways. [For why he remembered of the enemies in weather, to well do to them, that showed right ways.]

¹⁰ And the bones of (the) twelve prophets appear from their place; and they strengthened Jacob, and again-bought (or redeemed) them in (or by) the faith of their virtue. [And the bones of the twelve prophets spring out from their place; for why they strengthened Jacob, and again-bought themselves in faith of his virtue.]

¹¹ How shall we alarge, (or enlarge, or magnify) Zerubbabel, that is, praise him worthily? for why and he was a sign (or a signet) in (or on) the right hand of God to Israel; [What manner shall we make large Zerubbabel? for why and he as a token in the right hand of Israel;]

¹² and Jesus (or Joshua), the son of Jehozadak? which in their days builded an house [or the which in their days built up the house], and enhanced the holy temple to the Lord, made ready into everlasting glory.

¹³ And Nehemiah in the mind of much time, that raised [up] to (or for) us the walls, that were cast down, and made the gates and (the) locks to stand; which Nehemiah raised [up] our houses.

¹⁴ No man born in (or on) (the) earth was such as Enoch; for why and he was received (or taken up) from the earth. [No man is born in the earth such as Enoch; for why and he is received from the earth.]

¹⁵ And Joseph, that was born a man, the prince of brethren, the steadfastness of (the) folk, the governor of (his) brethren, the establishing of (the) people; and his bones were visited, and prophesied after (his) death. [And Joseph, that is born of man, prince of brethren, fastening of folk of kind, governor of brethren, stabling of people; and the bones of him be visited, and after the death they prophesied.]

¹⁶ Seth and Shem, these got glory with men, and over each man in the generation of Adam. [Seth and Shem, these with men had gotten glory, and over all life in the springing of Adam.]