Josiah and Other Worthies

49 The namea of Josiah is like blended incense

prepared by the skill of the perfumer;

his memoryb is as sweet as honey to every mouth,

and like music at a banquet of wine.

2 He did what was right by reforming the people,

and removing the wicked abominations.

3 He kept his heart fixed on the Lord;

in lawless times he made godliness prevail.

4 Except for David and Hezekiah and Josiah,

all of them were great sinners,

for they abandoned the law of the Most High;

the kings of Judah came to an end.

5 Theyc gave their power to others,

and their glory to a foreign nation,

6 who set fire to the chosen city of the sanctuary,

and made its streets desolate,

as Jeremiah had foretold.d

7 For they had mistreated him,

who even in the womb had been consecrated a prophet,

to pluck up and ruin and destroy,

and likewise to build and to plant.

8 It was Ezekiel who saw the vision of glory,

which Gode showed him above the chariot of the cherubim.

9 For Godf also mentioned Job

who held fast to all the ways of justice.g

10 May the bones of the Twelve Prophets

send forth new life from where they lie,

for they comforted the people of Jacob

and delivered them with confident hope.

11 How shall we magnify Zerubbabel?

He was like a signet ring on the right hand,

12 and so was Jeshua son of Jozadak;

in their days they built the house

and raised a templeh holy to the Lord,

destined for everlasting glory.

13 The memory of Nehemiah also is lasting;

he raised our fallen walls,

and set up gates and bars,

and rebuilt our ruined houses.