Sirach 48
Elijah was a powerful prophet who performed many wondrous works, including bringing a famine, raising a dead man, and throwing down kings. He was taken up into a whirlwind of fire and his spirit was passed on to Elisha. Despite Elijah's miracles, the people did not repent and were eventually cast out of their land. The passage also describes Hezekiah, a king who pleased God and was saved from the Assyrian army through the prophet Isaiah, and notes that Hezekiah was a faithful follower of David and was given a longer life by God.
And the prophet Elijah arose like a fire, and his word burned like a torchHe brought a famine upon them, and those who provoked him in their envy became few. For they could not bear the precepts of the LordBy the word of the Lord, he closed the heavens, and he brought down fire from heaven three timesIn this way, Elijah was magnified in his wondrous works. So who can say that he is similar to you in gloryHe raised up a dead man from the grave, from the fate of death, by the word of the Lord GodHe threw down kings unto perdition, and he easily shattered their power and boasting from his bedHe heeded the judgment at Sinai, and the judgments of punishment at HorebHe anointed kings unto repentance, and he chose the prophets who would follow after himHe was received into a whirlwind of fire, into a swift chariot with fiery horsesHe is written in the judgments of the times, so as to lessen the wrath of the Lord, to reconcile the heart of the father to the son, and to restore the tribes of JacobBlessed are those who saw you, and who were adorned with your friendshipFor we live only in our life, and after death, our name will not be the sameCertainly, Elijah was covered by the whirlwind, and his spirit was completed in Elisha. In his days, he was not fearful of the ruler, and no power defeated himNo word overwhelmed him, and after death, his body prophesiedIn his life, he gave great portents, and in death, he wrought miraclesIn all these things, the people did not repent, and they did not withdraw from their sins, even until they were cast out of their land, and were dispersed throughout all the earthAnd there was left behind a people very few in number, but with a leader in the house of DavidSome of these did what pleased God. But others committed many sinsHezekiah fortified his city, and he brought water into its midst, and he dug into rock with iron, and he built a well for waterIn his days, Sennacherib rose up, and he sent Rabshakeh, and he lifted up his hand against them, and he extended his hand against Zion, and he became arrogant in his powerThen their hearts and hands shook. And they were in pain, like women giving birthAnd they called upon the merciful Lord. And they spread their hands and lifted them up to heaven. And the holy Lord God quickly heeded their voiceHe was not mindful of their sins, and he did not give them over to their enemies. Instead, he purified them by the hand of Isaiah, the holy prophetHe threw down the army of the Assyrians, and the Angel of the Lord crushed themFor Hezekiah did what pleased God, and he went with fortitude in the way of David his father, just as he had been commanded by Isaiah, a prophet great and faithful in the sight of GodIn his days, the sun went backwards, and he added to the king’s lifeWith a great spirit he saw the final things. And he consoled the mourners in ZionHe revealed the future, even the distant future, and hidden things before they occurred
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