Sirach 46:1–10

1 Joshua the son of Nun was mighty in war,

and was the successor of Moses in prophesying.

He became, in accordance with his name,

a great savior of God’s elect,

to take vengeance on the enemies that rose against them,

so that he might give Israel its inheritance.

2 How glorious he was when he lifted his hands

and stretched out his sword against the cities!

3 Who before him ever stood so firm?

For he waged the wars of the Lord.

4 Was not the sun held back by his hand?

And did not one day become as long as two?

5 He called upon the Most High, the Mighty One,

when enemies pressed him on every side,

6 and the great Lord answered him

with hailstones of mighty power.

He hurled down war upon that nation,

and at the descent of Beth-horon he destroyed those who resisted,

so that the nations might know his armament,

that he was fighting in the sight of the Lord;

for he wholly followed the Mighty One.

7 And in the days of Moses he did a loyal deed,

he and Caleb the son of Jephunneh:

they withstood the congregation,

restrained the people from sin,

and stilled their wicked murmuring.

8 And these two alone were preserved

out of six hundred thousand people on foot,

to bring them into their inheritance,

into a land flowing with milk and honey.

9 And the Lord gave Caleb strength,

which remained with him to old age,

so that he went up to the hill country,

and his children obtained it for an inheritance;

10 so that all the sons of Israel might see

that it is good to follow the Lord.