Sirach

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 likewise 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 them by 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.