Ecclesiasticus, 46

1. Jesus the son a Nave was valiant in the wars, and was the successor of Moses in prophecies, who according to his name was made great for the saving of the elect of God, and taking vengeance of the enemies that rose up against them, that he might set Israel in their inheritance.

1. Joshua, son of Nun, was a valiant arrior and as a prophet he was the successor of Moses. He lived up to his name, proving himself to be a savior of God's chosen people, punishing the enemies that attacked them and leading Israel to claim their land.

2. How great glory gat he, when he did lift up his hands, and stretched out his sword against the cities!

2. How magnificent to see him, arm raised and with sword ready to attack the cities!

3. Who before him so stood to it? for the Lord himself brought his enemies unto him.

3. Who before him had such staying power? He was, indeed, Yahweh's warrior.

4. Did not the sun go back by his means? and was not one day as long as two?

4. Was it not he who held back the sun, making one day as long as two?

5. He called upon the most high Lord, when the enemies pressed upon him on every side; and the great Lord heard him.

5. He called on the Most High when the enemy pressed on every side, and the Mighty Lord responded with hailstones of exceptional size.

6. And with hailstones of mighty power he made the battle to fall violently upon the nations, and in the descent [of Beth-horon] he destroyed them that resisted, that the nations might know all their strength, because he fought in the sight of the Lord, and he followed the Mighty One.

6. He attacked the enemy nation and destroyed the assailants at the pass of Beth-horan, so that the nations might know the strength of Joshua and that they were fighting against the Lord.

7. In the time of Moses also he did a work of mercy, he and Caleb the son of Jephunne, in that they withstood the congregation, and withheld the people from sin, and appeased the wicked murmuring.

7. Joshua was loyal and devoted to the Almighty in the time of Moses, he and Caleb, son of Jephunneh. They stood firm against the assembly and tried to keep them from sinning by silencing their wicked murmuring.

8. And of six hundred thousand people on foot, they two were preserved to bring them in to the heritage, even unto the land that floweth with milk and honey.

8. Because of this, they were the only two spared out of six hundred thousand people on foot. And they took possession of their inheritance in a land flowing with milk and honey.

9. The Lord gave strength also unto Caleb, which remained with him unto his old age: so that he entered upon the high places of the land, and his seed obtained it for an heritage:

9. The Lord gifted Caleb with strength; this he enjoyed to the end of his days, and he went into the hill country that was given to his children in heritage.

10. That all the children of Israel might see that it is good to follow the Lord.

10. With this it was clear to all Israel that it is good to follow the Lord.

11. And concerning the judges, every one by name, whose heart went not a whoring, nor departed from the Lord, let their memory be blessed.

11. After that came the judges. Although each of them won his own renown, all were men of faithful heart who did not turn away from the Lord. Blessed be their memory!

12. Let their bones flourish out of their place, and let the name of them that were honoured be continued upon their children.

12. May their bones spring to life from the tomb and the names of these illustrious men live on in their children!

13. Samuel, the prophet of the Lord, beloved of his Lord, established a kingdom, and anointed princes over his people.

13. Samuel was a prophet and beloved of the Lord. He established the kingdom and anointed rulers to govern his people.

14. By the law of the Lord he judged the congregation, and the Lord had respect unto Jacob.

14. He judged the assembly according to the Law of the Lord and the Lord protected Jacob.

15. By his faithfulness he was found a true prophet, and by his word he was known to be faithful in vision.

15. He was accepted as prophet because of his faithfulness, and proved that his words were of a trustworthy seer.

16. He called upon the mighty Lord, when his enemies pressed upon him on every side, when he offered the sucking lamb.

16. He called on the Almighty Lord when the enemy pressed from all directions and he offered a sucking lamb.

17. And the Lord thundered from heaven, and with a great noise made his voice to be heard.

17. Then with a mighty roar the Lord thundered from heaven

18. And he destroyed the rulers of the Tyrians, and all the princes cf the Philistines.

18. and destroyed all the enemy's leaders and the tyrants of Philistia.

19. And before his long sleep he made protestations in the sight of the Lord and his anointed, I have not taken any man's goods, so much as a shoe: and no man did accuse him.

19. Before his time came for eternal rest, Samuel called men to witness before the Lord and his anointed: "I have not taken anyone's belongings, not even his sandals," and there was no one to accuse him.

20. And after his death he prophesied, and shewed the king his end, and lifted up his voice from the earth in prophecy, to blot out the wickedness of the people.

20. Even after he died, he prophesied and revealed to the king his death. From the grave he spoke as a prophet to blot out the wickedness of his people.