Sirach 44
The passage honors the ancestors of Israel, praising their virtues and the glory they obtained in their lifetimes. It highlights the contributions of various individuals, including those who ruled with prudence, prophesied, composed music, and lived virtuous lives. The passage also specifically mentions Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, noting their faithfulness and the covenants they made with God. These men's descendants were blessed and continued to stand firm in the covenants made with God.
Let us praise the men of glory, and our ancestors in their generationThe Lord has wrought great glory, by his own magnificence, from ancient timesThere are those who rule with their authority, men of great virtue, who are gifted with prudence. There are those who announce among the prophets, with the dignity of prophetsAnd there are those who rule over the present generation, by the virtue of prudence, with very holy words for the peopleThere are those who, by their skill, compose musical themes, so as to set the verses of Scripture to musicThere are men rich in virtue, who make a study of beauty, who live in peacefulness in their housesAll these obtained glory in their generations, and they had praise in their daysThey left behind a name for those who were born of them, so that their praises might be describedBut for some of them, there is no memorial. They have passed away as if they had never existed; and they have become as if they had never been born, and their sons along with themBut these were men of mercy, whose pious deeds have not failedGood things continue with their offspringTheir descendents are a holy inheritance, and their offspring stand firm in the covenantsAnd because of them, their sons remain even unto eternity. Their offspring and their glory will not be forsakenTheir bodies were buried in peace, and their name lives on, from generation to generationLet the people declare their wisdom, and let the Church announce their praiseEnoch pleased God, and he was transferred to Paradise, so that he might offer repentance to the nationsNoah was found to be perfect and just, and so, in the time of wrath, he was made a reconciliationAs a result, there was a remnant left for the earth, when the great flood was madeThe covenants of the world were placed with him, so that all flesh would not be wiped away by the great floodAbraham was the great father of a multitude of nations, and no one was found to be like him in glory. He observed the law of the Most High, and he formed a covenant with himIn his flesh, he caused the covenant to stand, and when tested, he was found to be faithfulTherefore, by an oath, he gave glory to him among his people, so as to increase him like the dust of the earthand to exalt his offspring like the stars, and to give an inheritance to them from sea to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earthAnd he acted in like manner toward Isaac, because of his father AbrahamThe Lord gave the blessing of all the nations to him, and he confirmed his covenant upon the head of JacobHe acknowledged him in his blessings, and he gave an inheritance to him, and he distributed to him the portion of the twelve tribesAnd he preserved for him men of mercy, who were found to have grace before the eyes of all flesh
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