Ecclesiasticus 44

¹Let us praise glorious men, and our fathers in their generation.

²Much glory hath our Lord made by his magnificence from the beginning of the world.

³Ruling in their dominions, men great for force, and endued with their wisdom, declaring in the prophets the dignity of prophets,

⁴and ruling in the people that was present, and by the virtue of wisdom most holy words to the peoples.

⁵In their skill seeking out musical melodies, & uttering songs of scriptures.

⁶Rich men in force studying beautifulness: living at peace in their houses.

⁷All these in the generations of their nation have obtained glory, and in their days are praised.

⁸They that were born of them have left a name to tell their praises:

⁹and there are some of whom there is no memory: they are perished, as they that never were; & are born, as not born at all, & their children with them.

¹⁰But they are men of mercy, whose godly deeds have not failed:

¹¹good things continue with their seed,

¹²their nephews are an holy inheritance, and their seed hath stood in the testaments:

¹³and their children because of them abide for ever: their seed and their glory shall not be forsaken.

¹⁴Their bodies are buried in peace, and their name liveth unto generation and generation.

¹⁵Let peoples tell their wisdom, and the Church declare their praise.

¹⁶Henoch pleased God, and was translated into paradise, that he may give repentance to the nations.

¹⁷Noe was found perfect, just, and in the time of wrath he was made a reconciliation.

¹⁸Therefore was there a remnant left to the earth, when the flood was made.

¹⁹The testaments of the world were made with him, that all flesh should no more be destroyed with the flood.

²⁰Abraham the great father of the multitude of the nations, and there was not found the like to him in glory, who kept the law of the Highest, and was in covenant with him.

²¹In his flesh he made the covenant to stand, and in tentation he was found faithful.

²²Therefore by an oath he gave him glory in his nation, that he should increase as an heap of earth,

²³and that he would exalt his seed as the stars, and they should inherit from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth.

²⁴And he did in like manner in Isaac for Abraham his father.

²⁵Our Lord gave him the blessing of all nations, and confirmed his covenant upon the head of Jacob.

²⁶He knew him in his blessings, and gave him an inheritance, & divided him his portion in twelve tribes.

²⁷And he preserved unto him men of mercy, and found grace in the eyes of all flesh.