Sirach 49

49The name of Josiah is as sweet-smelling incense,

That is well mixed, the work of the apothecary.

The mention of him is sweet in the palate as honey,

And as music at a banquet of wine.

For he was grieved at our backsliding,

And put an end to the vain abominations;

And he gave his heart wholly unto God,

And in days of violencehe practised piety.

Except David, Hezekiah, and Josiah,

They all dealt utterly corruptly,

And forsook the Law of the Most High—

The kings of Judah, till ^[they came to^[ their end;

And their might was given unto others,

And their glory to a strange nation;

And so the Holy City was burned,

And the ways thereof laid waste

Through Jeremiah; 7 because they had persecuted him,

And he a prophet formed from the womb,

‘To pluck up, to break down, and to destroy,

And likewise to build, and to plant,’ and to strengthen.

Ezekiel saw a vision,

And described the different beings of the chariot.

He also made mention of Job ^〈among the prophets^〈

Who maintainedall the ways of righteousness.

And, moreover, as for the Twelve Prophets,—

May their bones ^〈flourish in their place^〈,

Who recovered Jacob to health,

And delivered him ^〈by confident hope^〈.

How shall we magnify Zerubbabel—

He, indeed was as a signet on the right hand;—

And also Jesus, the son of Joṣedeq?

Who in their days built the House,

And set up on high the Holy Temple,

Which was prepared for everlasting glory.

Nehemiah,—glorious is his memory!

Who raised up our ruins,

And healed our breaches,

And set up gates and bars.

Few like Enoch have been created on earth;

He also was taken up^〈from off the face thereof^〈.

Like Joseph was ever a man born?

His body also endured a visitation.

Shem, Seth, and Enoch were ^〈highly honoured^〈;

But above every living thing was the beauteous glory of Adam.

Great among his brethren and the glory of his people