The Book of Jesus Sirach

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Kapitel 48 -

The praise of Elias, of Eliseus, of Ezechias, and of Isaias.

And Elias the prophet stood up, as a fire, and his word burnt like a torch.

He brought a famine upon them, and they that provoked him in their envy, were reduced to a small number, for they could not endure the commandments of the Lord.

By the word of the Lord he shut up the heaven, and he brought down fire from heaven thrice.

Thus was Elias magnified in his wondrous works. And who can glory like to thee?

Who raisedst up a dead man from below, from the lot of death, by the word of the Lord God.

Who broughtest down kings to destruction, and brokest easily their power in pieces, and the glorious from their bed.

Who heardest judgment in Sina, and in Horeb the judgments of vengeance.

Who anointedst kings to penance, and madest prophets successors after thee.

Who wast taken up in a whirlwind of fire, in a chariot of fiery horses.

Who art registered in the judgments of times to appease the wrath of the Lord, to reconcile the heart of the father to the son, and to restore the tribes of Jacob.

Blessed are they that saw thee, and were honoured with thy friendship.

For we live only in our life, but after death our name shall not be such.

Elias was indeed covered with the whirlwind, and his spirit was filled up in Eliseus: in his days he feared not the prince, and no man was more powerful than he.

No word could overcome him, and after death his body prophesied.

In his life he did great wonders, and is death he wrought miracles.

For all this the people repented not, neither did they depart from their sins till they were cast out of their land, and were scattered through all the earth.

And there was left but a small people, and a prince in the house of David.

Some of these did that which pleased God: but others committed many sins.

Ezechias fortified his city, and brought in water into the midst thereof, and he digged a rock with iron, and made a well for water.

In his days Sennacherib came up, and sent Rabsaces, and lifted up his hand against them, and he stretched out his hand against Sion, and became proud through his power.

Then their hearts and hands trembled, and they were in pain as women in travail.

And they called upon the Lord who is merciful, and spreading their hands, they lifted them up to heaven: and the holy Lord God quickly heard their voice.

He was not mindful of their sins, neither did he deliver them up to their enemies, but he purified them by the hand of Isaias, the holy prophet.

He overthrew the army of the Assyrians, and the angel of the Lord destroyed them.

For Ezechias did that which pleased God, and walked valiantly in the way of David his father, which Isaias, the great prophet, and faithful in the sight of God, had commanded him.

In his days the sun went backward, and he lengthened the king’s life.

With a great spirit he saw the things that are to come to pass at last, and comforted the mourners in Sion.

He shewed what should come to pass for ever, and secret things before they came.

The praise of Elias, of Eliseus, of Ezechias, and of Isaias.

Then Elijah arose, the prophet like fire. His word burned like a torch.

He brought a famine upon them, and by his zeal made them few in number.

By the word of the Lord he shut up the heavens. He brought down fire three times.

How you were glorified, O Elijah, in your wondrous deeds! Whose glory is like yours?

You raised up a dead man from death, from Hades, by the word of the Most High.

You brought down kings to destruction, and honorable men from their sickbeds.

You heard rebuke in Sinai, and judgments of vengeance in Horeb.

You anointed kings for retribution, and prophets to succeed after you.

You were taken up in a tempest of fire, in a chariot of fiery horses.

You were recorded for reproofs in their seasons, to pacify anger, before it broke out into wrath, to turn the heart of the father to the son, and to restore the tribes of Jacob.

Blessed are those who saw you, and those who have been beautified with love; for we also shall surely live.

Elijah was wrapped in a whirlwind. Elisha was filled with his spirit. In his days he was not moved by the fear of any ruler, and no one brought him into subjection.

Nothing was too hard for him. When he was buried, his body prophesied.

As in his life he did wonders, so his works were also marvelous in death.

For all this the people didn’t repent. They didn’t depart from their sins, until they were carried away as a plunder from their land, and were scattered through all the earth. The people were left very few in number, but with a ruler from the house of David.

Some of them did that which was right, but some multiplied sins.

Hezekiah fortified his city, and brought water into its midst. He tunneled through rock with iron, and built cisterns for water.

In his days Sennacherib invaded, and sent Rabshakeh, and departed. He lifted up his hand against Zion, and boasted great things in his arrogance.

Then their hearts and their hands were shaken, and they were in pain, as women in labor.

But they called upon the Lord who is merciful, spreading out their hands to him. The Holy One quickly heard them out of Heaven, and delivered them by the hand of Isaiah.

He struck the camp of the Assyrians, and his angel utterly destroyed them.

For Hezekiah did that which was pleasing to the Lord, and was strong in the ways of his ancestor David, which Isaiah the prophet commanded, who was great and faithful in his vision.

In his days the sun went backward. He prolonged the life of the king.

He saw by an excellent spirit what would come to pass in the future; and he comforted those who mourned in Zion.

He showed the things that would happen through the end of time, and the hidden things before they came.