Sirach 48 — BST
48Verse 1Then stood up Elias the prophet as fire, and his word burned like a lamp.Verse 2He brought a sore famine upon them, and by his zeal he diminished their number.Verse 3By the word of the Lord he shut up the heaven, and also three times brought down fire.Verse 4O Elias, how wast thou honoured in thy wondrous deeds! and who may glory like unto thee!Verse 5Who didst raise up a dead man from death, and his soul from the place of the dead, by the word of the most High:Verse 6who broughtest kings to destruction, and honourable men from their bed:Verse 7who heardest the rebuke of the Lord in Sinai, and in Horeb the judgment of vengeance:Verse 8who anointedst kings to take revenge, and prophets to succeed after him:Verse 9who wast taken up in a whirlwind of fire, and in a chariot of fiery horses:Verse 10who 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.Verse 11Blessed are they that saw thee, and slept in love; for we shall surely live.Verse 12Elias 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.Verse 13No word could overcome him; and after his death his body prophesied.Verse 14He did wonders in his life, and at his death were his works marvellous.Verse 15For 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:Verse 16of whom some did that which was pleasing to God, and some multiplied sins.Verse 17Ezekias fortified his city, and brought in water into the midst thereof: he digged the hard rock with iron, and made wells for waters.Verse 18In his time Sennacherib came up, and sent Rabsaces, and lifted up his hand against Sion, and boasted proudly.Verse 19Then trembled their hearts and hands, and they were in pain, as women in travail.Verse 20But they called upon the Lord who 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.Verse 21He smote the host of the Assyrians, and his angel destroyed them.Verse 22For 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.Verse 23In his time the sun went backward, and he lengthened the king's life.Verse 24He saw by an excellent spirit what should come to pass at the last, and he comforted them that mourned in Sion.Verse 25He shewed what should come to pass for ever, and secret things or ever they came.