Sirach 44:1-13

New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition

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 valour;
those who gave counsel because they were intelligent;
    those who spoke in prophetic oracles;
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;
⁶ rich men endowed with resources,
    living peacefully in their homes—
⁷ all these were honoured 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.
¹⁰ But these also were godly men,
    whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten;
¹¹ their wealth will remain with their descendants,
    and their inheritance with their children’s children.^[c]
12 Their descendants stand by the covenants;
    their children also, for their sake.
¹³ Their offspring will continue for ever,
    and their glory will never be blotted out.