Chapter Forty-Nine

The praise of God’s providence among people through the godliness and wisdom of King Josiah, the prophecies of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, the twelve minor prophets, the godly activity of Zerubbabel, Jesus son of Jozadak, and Nehemiah.

Sirach 49:1. The memory of Josiah is like a fragrant compound, prepared by the art of the perfumer; Sirach 49:2. in every mouth it will be sweet, like honey and like music at a drinking feast. Sirach 49:3. He successfully acted in turning back the people and destroyed the abominations of lawlessness; Sirach 49:4. he turned his heart to the Lord and strengthened godliness in the days of lawlessness. 1–4. See 2 Kgs 22-23; 2 Chr 34-35.

Sirach 49:5. Except for David, Hezekiah, and Josiah, all committed grievous sin, Sirach 49:6. for they abandoned the law of the Most High; the kings of Judah ceased, Sirach 49:7. for they gave their power to others and their glory to a foreign nation. 5–7. Except for David, Hezekiah, and Josiah, all the Judean kings committed grievous sin, for they abandoned the law of the Most High. For their stubborn impiety the Judean kings ceased, that is, were temporarily deprived of their kingly power and gave their power to other kings and their glory to the Babylonians. With the end of the Babylonian captivity, the Jews were given the right to settle again in Palestine and to govern their own internal religious and communal life according to their own laws granted by God. In the period of the glorious Maccabean wars, Judea attains, along with internal self-governance, also external political power.

Sirach 49:8. The chosen city of sanctity was burned and its streets laid waste, as Jeremiah predicted, 8. See 2 Kgs 24-25; 2 Chr 36.

Sirach 49:9. whom they harmed, though even in the womb he was sanctified as a prophet, to uproot and to strike down and to destroy, as well as to build and to plant. 9. See Jer 1:5. He was sanctified in the womb as a prophet, to uproot and to strike down and to destroy evil in its various manifestations; as well as to build and to plant good in the consciousness and life of people.

Sirach 49:10. Ezekiel saw a vision of glory, which God showed him on the cherubic chariot; 10. See Ezek 1.

Sirach 49:11. he made mention of the enemies under the image of rain and proclaimed good to those who corrected their ways. 11. He made mention of the enemies, who like rain would fall upon the lawless, and at the same time proclaimed good to those who corrected their ways.

Sirach 49:12. And the twelve prophets – may their bones flourish from their place! – comforted Jacob and saved them with steadfast hope. Sirach 49:13. How shall we magnify Zerubbabel? And he is as a signet ring on the right hand; Sirach 49:14. likewise Jeshua, son of Jozadak: in their days they built the house and restored the holy temple to the Lord, destined for eternal glory. 13–14. See Ezra 3.

Sirach 49:15. Great also is the memory of Nehemiah, who raised our fallen walls, set up gates and bars, and restored our ruined houses. 15. See the book of Neh 1-7.

Sirach 49:16. There was not on the earth anyone of those created like Enoch – for he was taken up from the earth – Sirach 49:17. and there was not born such a man as Joseph, head of his brothers, support of his people – and his bones were honored. Sirach 49:18. Shem and Seth were glorified among people, but above all living in creation – Adam. 18. Above all living in creation – the ancestor of mankind, the forefather Adam.