The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Ecclesiaticus 49
1 The memory of Josiah is like the composition of incense
prepared by the work of the perfumer.
It will be sweet as honey in every mouth,
and like music at a banquet of wine.
2 He did what was right in the reforming of
the people, and took away the abominations of
iniquity.
3 He set his heart right toward the Lord.
In lawless days, he made godliness prevail.
4 Except David, Hezekiah, and Josiah,
all were wicked, because they abandoned the law of
the Most High. The kings of Judah came to an end.
5 They gave their power to others,
and their glory to a foreign nation.
6 They set the chosen city of the sanctuary
on fire and made her streets desolate, as
it was written by the hand of Jeremiah.
7 For they mistreated him; yet he was
sanctified in the womb to be a prophet,
to root out, to afflict, to destroy and
like wise to build and to plant.
8 Ezekiel saw the vision of glory,
which God showed him on the chariot
of the cherubim.
9 For truly he remembered the enemies in
rainstorm, and to do good to those who directed
their ways aright.
10 Also of the twelve prophets,†
may their bones flourish again out of
their place. He comforted the people of Jacob,
and delivered themby confident hope.
11 How shall we magnify Zerubbabel?
He was like a signet ring on the right
hand.
12 So was Jesus the son of Josedek,
who in their days built the house,
and exalted a‡ people holy to the Lord,
prepared for everlasting glory.
13 Also of Nehemiah the memory is great.
He raised up for us fallen walls,
set up the gates and bars,
and rebuilt our houses.
14 No man was created upon the earth like
Enoch, for he was taken up from the earth.
15 Nor was there a man born like Joseph,
a leader of his kindred, a supporter of
the people. Even his bones were cared for.
16 Shem and Seth were honored among
men, but above every living thing in the
creation was Adam.