Ecclesiasticus, 44

1. Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers that begat us.

1. Let us now glorify illustrious men, the ancestors of our people.

2. The Lord hath wrought great glory by them through his great power from the beginning.

2. The Lord gave them great glory according to his own greatness from the beginning.

3. Such as did bear rule in their kingdoms, men renowned for their power, giving counsel by their understanding, and declaring prophecies:

3. Some ruled kingdoms and were renowned for their achievements, others were wise and able to counsel, or spoke as prophets.

4. Leaders of the people by their counsels, and by their knowledge of learning meet for the people, wise and eloquent are their instructions:

4. They led the people with their warnings or with their knowledge of the popular writings.

5. Such as found out musical tunes, and recited verses in writing:

5. Some cultivated music and poetry,

6. Rich men furnished with ability, living peaceably in their habitations:

6. others were rich and powerful men living peacefully in their homes.

7. All these were honoured in their generations, and were the glory of their times.

7. All were highly respected in their days and honored by the people they lived with.

8. There be of them, that have left a name behind them, that their praises might be reported.

8. The names of some lived on and people still praise them today;

9. And some there be, which have no memorial; who are perished, as though they had never been; and are become as though they had never been born; and their children after them.

9. others are not remembered and have disappeared as if they never existed. It is the same for their children.

10. But these were merciful men, whose righteousness hath not been forgotten.

10. But now consider the godly men whose good deeds have not been forgotten.

11. With their seed shall continually remain a good inheritance, and their children are within the covenant.

11. Those who came after them benefited from the rich legacy they left;

12. Their seed standeth fast, and their children for their sakes.

12. their race remained faithful to the Covenant, their children followed their example.

13. Their seed shall remain for ever, and their glory shall not be blotted out.

13. Their family will endure forever and never will its glory be tarnished.

14. Their bodies are buried in peace; but their name liveth for evermore.

14. Their bodies were buried in peace but their memory lives through generations.

15. The people will tell of their wisdom, and the congregation will shew forth their praise.

15. Peoples will speak of their wisdom and the assembly will celebrate their praise.

16. Enoch pleased the Lord, and was translated, being an example of repentance to all generations.

16. Enoch pleased the Lord and was taken up, calling future generations to repentance.

17. Noah was found perfect and righteous; in the time of wrath he was taken in exchange [for the world;] therefore was he left as a remnant unto the earth, when the flood came.

17. Noah was found to be perfectly just; at the time of divine anger he was the ransom; through him a remnant was left on earth after the flood.

18. An everlasting covenant was made with him, that all flesh should perish no more by the flood.

18. Eternal covenants were made with him to ensure that never again would life be destroyed by flood.

19. Abraham was a great father of many people: in glory was there none like unto him;

19. No one has been found to equal Abraham in glory, the great ancestor of many nations.

20. Who kept the law of the most High, and was in covenant with him: he established the covenant in his flesh; and when he was proved, he was found faithful.

20. He was faithful to the Law of the Most High who made a covenant with him, a covenant that was marked on his flesh, and on the day he was tested he was found faithful.

21. Therefore he assured him by an oath, that he would bless the nations in his seed, and that he would multiply him as the dust of the earth, and exalt his seed as the stars, and cause them to inherit from sea to sea, and from the river unto the utmost part of the land.

21. That is why God promised by oath to bless all the nations through his descendants, that he would make them as numerous as the dust of the earth and exalt his posterity like the stars. He promised that their land would stretch from sea to sea, from the River to the ends of the earth.

22. With Isaac did he establish likewise [for Abraham his father's sake] the blessing of all men, and the covenant, And made it rest upon the head of Jacob. He acknowledged him in his blessing, and gave him an heritage, and divided his portions; among the twelve tribes did he part them.

22. The Lord renewed his Covenant with Isaac for the sake of his father, Abraham.

23.

23. This Covenant and the blessing of all mankind he made to rest on the head of Jacob. He assured Jacob of his blessing, giving him the land that would be his and determining the portions to be shared among the twelve tribes.