Part 241

49:2. His remembrance shall be sweet as honey in every mouth, and as music at a banquet of wine.

49:3. He was directed by God unto the repentance of the nation, and he took away the abominations of wickedness.

49:4. And he directed his heart towards the Lord, and in the days of sinners he strengthened godliness.

49:5. Except David, and Ezechias and Josias, all committed sin.

49:6. For the kings of Juda forsook the law of the most High, and despised the fear of God.

49:7. So they gave their kingdom to others, and their glory to a strange nation,

49:8. They burnt the chosen city of holiness, and made the streets thereof desolate according to the prediction of Jeremias.

49:9. For they treated him evil, who was consecrated a prophet from his mother's womb, to overthrow, and pluck up, and destroy, and to build again, and renew.

49:10. It was Ezechiel that saw the glorious vision, which was shewn him upon the chariot of cherubims.

49:11. For he made mention of the enemies under the figure of rain, and of doing good to them that shewed right ways.

49:12. And may the bones of the twelve prophets spring up out of their place: for they strengthened Jacob, and redeemed themselves by strong faith.

49:13. How shall we magnify Zorobabel? for he was as a signet on the right hand;

49:14. In like manner Jesus the son of Josedec who in their days built the house, and set up a holy temple to the Lord, prepared for everlasting glory.

49:15. And let Nehemias be a long time remembered, who raised up for us our walls that were cast down, and set up the gates and the bars, who rebuilt our houses.

49:16. No man was born upon earth like Henoch: for he also was taken up from the earth.

49:17. Nor as Joseph, who was a man born prince of his brethren, the support of his family, the ruler of his brethren, the stay of the people:

49:18. And his bones were visited, and after death they prophesied.

They prophesied. . .That is, by their being carried out of Egypt they verified the prophetic prediction of Joseph. Gen. 50.

49:19. Seth and Sem obtained glory among men: and above every soul Adam in the beginning,

Ecclesiasticus Chapter 50

The praises of Simon the high priest. The conclusion.

50:1. Simon the high priest, the son of Onias, who in his life propped up the house, and in his days fortified the temple.

50:2. By him also the height of the temple was founded, the double building and the high walls of the temple.

50:3. In his days the wells of water flowed out, and they were filled as the sea above measure.

50:4. He took care of his nation, and delivered it from destruction.

50:5. He prevailed to enlarge the city, and obtained glory in his conversation with the people: and enlarged the entrance of the house and the court.

50:6. He shone in his days as the morning star in the midst of a cloud, and as the moon at the full.

50:7. And as the sun when it shineth, so did he shine in the temple of God.