Sirach 44

1 Let us now praise renowned men, our ancestors by birth.

2 The Lord created great glory through them, displaying his greatness from ancient times.

3 Some ruled in their kingdoms and were men renowned for strength; some gave counsel with understanding or announced prophecies.

4 Some led the people through their counsel and understanding of the people’s writings; their words of instruction were wise.

5 Some composed musical melodies or recounted poems in writing.

6 Some were rich men endowed with strength who lived peacefully in their homes.

7 All these were honored in their generations and were the pride of their times.

8 Some of them left behind a name so that their praises might be recounted.

9 But some have no memorial. They perished as though they had never existed and became as though they had never been born, and so did their children after them.

10 Yet these were merciful men whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten.

11 A good inheritance will remain with their descendants.

12 Their offspring stand firm within the covenants, and their children do so because of them.

13 Their offspring will remain forever, and their glory will not be erased.

14 Their bodies were buried in peace, but their name lives through generations.

15 Peoples will recount their wisdom, and the assembly proclaims their praise.

16 Enoch pleased the Lord and was taken away, an example of a change of heart for the generations.

17 Noah was found perfect and righteous; in a time of wrath he became a substitute. Because of him, some people remained on the earth when the flood came.

18 Everlasting covenants were established with him so that all flesh would never again be erased by a flood.

19 Abraham was the great father of a multitude of nations, and no one was found equal to him in glory.

20 He kept the law of the Most High and entered into covenant with him. He established the covenant in his flesh, and when tested, he was found faithful.

21 Therefore God confirmed by an oath that the nations would be blessed through his offspring, that he would multiply him like the dust of the earth, exalt his offspring like the stars, and give them an inheritance from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.

22 With Isaac he likewise established, because of his father Abraham, the blessing of all people and the covenant.

23 He made it rest on Jacob’s head. He acknowledged him with his blessings, gave him an inheritance, and divided his portions among the twelve tribes.