1Then Nathan the prophet arose in the days of David.

1And Elias the prophet stood up, as a fire, and his word burnt like a torch.

2And as the fat taken away from the flesh, so was David chosen from among the children of Israel.

2He brought a famine upon them, and they that provoked him in their envy, were reduced to a small number, for they could not endure the commandments of the Lord.

3He played with lions as with lambs: and with bears he did in like manner as with the lambs of the flock, in his youth.

3By the word of the Lord he shut up the heaven, and he brought down fire from heaven thrice.

4Did not he kill the giant, and take away reproach from his people?

4Thus was Elias magnified in his wondrous works. And who can glory like to thee?

5In lifting up his hand, with the stone in the sling he beat down the boasting of Goliath:

5Who raisedst up a dead man from below, from the lot of death, by the word of the Lord God.

6For he called upon the Lord the Almighty, and he gave strength in his right hand, to take away the mighty warrior, and to set up the horn of his nation.

6Who broughtest down kings to destruction, and brokest easily their power in pieces, and the glorious from their bed.

7So in ten thousand did he glorify him, and praised him in the blessings of the Lord, in offering to him a crown of glory:

7Who heardest judgment in Sina, and in Horeb the judgments of vengeance.

8For he destroyed the enemies on every side, and extirpated the Philistines the adversaries unto this day: he broke their horn for ever.

8Who anointedst kings to penance, and madest prophets successors after thee.

9In all his works he gave thanks to the holy one, and to the most High, with words of glory.

9Who wast taken up in a whirlwind of fire, in a chariot of fiery horses.

10With his whole heart he praised the Lord, and loved God that made him: and he gave him power against his enemies:

10Who art registered in the judgments of times to appease the wrath of the Lord, to reconcile the heart of the father to the son, and to restore the tribes of Jacob.

11And he set singers before the altar, and by their voices he made sweet melody.

11Blessed are they that saw thee, and were honoured with thy friendship.

12And to the festivals he added beauty, and set in order the solemn times even to the end of his life, that they should praise the holy name of the Lord, and magnify the holiness of God in the morning.

12For we live only in our life, but after death our name shall not be such.

13The Lord took away his sins, and exalted his horn for ever: and he gave him a covenant of the kingdom, and a throne of glory in Israel.

13Elias was indeed covered with the whirlwind, and his spirit was filled up in Eliseus: in his days he feared not the prince, and no man was more powerful than he.

14After him arose up a wise son, and for his sake he cast down all the power of the enemies.

14No word could overcome him, and after death his body prophesied.

15Solomon reigned in days of peace, and God brought all his enemies under him, that he might build a house in his name, and prepare a sanctuary for ever: O how wise wast thou in thy youth!

15In his life he did great wonders, and in death he wrought miracles.

16And thou wast filled as a river with wisdom, and thy soul covered the earth.

16For all this the people repented not, neither did they depart from their sins till they were cast out of their land, and were scattered through all the earth.

17And thou didst multiply riddles in parables: thy name went abroad to the islands far off, and thou wast beloved in thy peace.

17And there was left but a small people, and a prince in the house of David.

18The countries wondered at thee for thy canticles, and proverbs, and parables, and interpretations,

18Some of these did that which pleased God: but others committed many sins.

19And at the name of the Lord God, whose surname is, God of Israel.

19Ezechias fortified his city, and brought in water into the midst thereof, and he digged a rock with iron, and made a well for water.

20Thou didst gather gold as copper, and didst multiply silver as lead,

20In his days Sennacherib came up, and sent Rabsaces, and lifted up his hand against them, and he stretched out his hand against Sion, and became proud through his power.

21And thou didst bow thyself to women: and by thy body thou wast brought under subjection.

21Then their hearts and hands trembled, and they were in pain as women in travail.

22Thou hast stained thy glory, and defiled thy seed so as to bring wrath upon thy children, and to have thy folly kindled,

22And they called upon the Lord who is merciful, and spreading their hands, they lifted them up to heaven: and the holy Lord God quickly heard their voice.

23That thou shouldst make the kingdom to be divided, and out of Ephraim a rebellious kingdom to rule.

23He was not mindful of their sins, neither did he deliver them up to their enemies, but he purified them by the hand of Isaias, the holy prophet.

24But God will not leave off his mercy, and he will not destroy, nor abolish his own works, neither will he cut up by the roots the offspring of his elect: and he will not utterly take away the seed of him that loveth the Lord.

24He overthrew the army of the Assyrians, and the angel of the Lord destroyed them.

25Wherefore he gave a remnant to Jacob, and to David of the same stock.

25For Ezechias did that which pleased God, and walked valiantly in the way of David his father, which Isaias, the great prophet, and faithful in the sight of God, had commanded him.

26And Solomon had an end with his fathers.

26In his days the sun wen backward, and he lengthened the king's life.

27And he left behind him of his seed, the folly of the nation,

27With a great spirit he saw the things that are to come to pass at last, and comforted the mourners in Sion.

28Even Roboam that had little wisdom, who turned away the people through his counsel:

28He showed what should come to pass for ever, and secret things before they came.

29And Jeroboam the son of Nabat, who caused Israel to sin, and shewed Ephraim the way of sin, and their sins were multiplied exceedingly.

30They removed them far away from their land.

31And they sought out all iniquities, till vengeance came upon them, and put an end to all their sins. Ecclesiasticus Chapte 48 The praise of Elias, of Eliseus, of Ezechias, and of Isaias.