Ecclesiasticus, 48

1. Then stood up Elias the prophet as fire, and his word burned like a lamp.

1. Then came the prophet Elijah like a fire, his words a burning torch.

2. He brought a sore famine upon them, and by his zeal he diminished their number.

2. He brought a famine on the people and in his zealous love had them reduced in number.

3. By the word of the Lord he shut up the heaven, and also three times brought down fire.

3. Speaking in the name of the Lord he closed the heavens, and on three occasions called down fire.

4. O Elias, how wast thou honoured in thy wondrous deeds! and who may glory like unto thee!

4. How marvelous you were, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds! Who could ever boast of being your equal?

5. Who didst raise up a dead man from death, and his soul from the place of the dead, by the word of the most High:

5. By the word of the Most High you brought a dead man back to life;

6. Who broughtest kings to destruction, and honorable men from their bed:

6. you brought kings to destruction and thrust famous men from their beds.

7. Who heardest the rebuke of the Lord in Sinai, and in Horeb the judgment of vengeance:

7. You heard a rebuke at Sinai and sentences of punishment at Horeb;

8. Who annointedst kings to take revenge, and prophets to succeed after him:

8. you anointed kings to be avengers and prophets to succeed you.

9. Who was taken up in a whirlwind of fire, and in a chariot of fiery horses:

9. You were taken up by a whirlwind of flames in a chariot drawn by fiery horses.

10. Who wast ordained for reproofs in their times, to pacify the wrath of the Lord's judgment, before it brake forth into fury, and to turn the heart of the father unto the son, and to restore the tribes of Jacob.

10. It was written that you should be the one to calm God's anger in the future before it broke out in fury, to turn the hearts of fathers to their sons and to restore the tribes of Jacob.

11. Blessed are they that saw thee, and slept in love; for we shall surely live.

11. Happy are those who will see you and those who die in love, for we too shall live.

12. Elias it was, who was covered with a whirlwind: and Eliseus was filled with his spirit: whilst he lived, he was not moved with the presence of any prince, neither could any bring him into subjection.

12. Such was Elijah, taken up in a whirlwind, and Elisha was filled with his spirit. During his life no leader could shake him, no one dominated him.

13. No word could overcome him; and after his death his body prophesied.

13. Nothing was too difficult for him and even in death his body prophesied.

14. He did wonders in his life, and at his death were his works marvellous.

14. In life he worked wonders, in death his deeds were amazing.

15. For all this the people repented not, neither departed they from their sins, till they were spoiled and carried out of their land, and were scattered through all the earth: yet there remained a small people, and a ruler in the house of David:

15. Despite all this, the people were not converted and did not turn away from sin; not until they were deported far from their country and scattered over the earth.

16. Of whom some did that which was pleasing to God, and some multiplied sins.

16. The people were greatly reduced in number but they still had a ruler from the line of David. Some of them were upright people, others became sinful.

17. Ezekias fortified his city, and brought in water into the midst thereof: he digged the hard rock with iron, and made wells for waters.

17. Hezekiah fortified his city and brought water within its walls, tunneling the rock with iron tools to construct cisterns.

18. In his time Sennacherib came up, and sent Rabsaces, and lifted up his hand against Sion, and boasted proudly.

18. During his reign Sennacherib began his campaigns and sent off Rabshakeh, and insolent and arrogant as he was, he raised his arm against Zion.

19. Then trembled their hearts and hands, and they were in pain, as women in travail.

19. Then their courage was shaken, their hands trembled, they felt anguish like women in labor.

20. But they called upon the Lord which is merciful, and stretched out their hands toward him: and immediately the Holy One heard them out of heaven, and delivered them by the ministry of Esay.

20. They stretched out their hands and called on the merciful Lord. From heaven the Holy One quickly heard them and saved them by the hand of Isaiah.

21. He smote the host of the Assyrians, and his angel destroyed them.

21. The Lord struck the Assyrian camp and his angel wiped them out.

22. For Ezekias had done the thing that pleased the Lord, and was strong in the ways of David his father, as Esay the prophet, who was great and faithful in his vision, had commanded him.

22. For Hezekiah did what was pleasing to the Lord and was firm in following the ways of David, his father, as the great and faithful prophet Isaiah ordered, a man of trustworthy vision.

23. In his time the sun went backward, and he lengthened the king's life.

23. In his time the sun went back and he lengthened the life of the king.

24. He saw by an excellent spirit what should come to pass at the last, and he comforted them that mourned in Sion.

24. In the power of the spirit he foresaw the last things and consoled the afflicted people of Zion.

25. He shewed what should come to pass for ever, and secret things or ever they came.

25. He revealed what would happen until the end of time and made hidden events known before they occurred.