Josiah and Other Worthies

1The name49.1 Heb: Gk memory of Josiah is like blended incense

prepared by the skill of the perfumer;

his memory49.1 Heb: Gk it is as sweet as honey to every mouth,

and like music at a banquet of wine.

2He did what was right by reforming the people,

and removing the wicked abominations.

3He kept his heart fixed on the Lord;

in lawless times he made godliness prevail.

4Except for David and Hezekiah and Josiah,

all of them were great sinners,

for they abandoned the law of the Most High;

the kings of Judah came to an end.

5They49.5 Heb He gave their power to others,

and their glory to a foreign nation,

6who set fire to the chosen city of the sanctuary,

and made its streets desolate,

as Jeremiah had foretold.49.6 Gk by the hand of Jeremiah

7For they had maltreated him,

who even in the womb had been consecrated a prophet,

to pluck up and ruin and destroy,

and likewise to build and to plant.

8It was Ezekiel who saw the vision of glory,

which God49.8 Gk He showed him above the chariot of the cherubim.

9For God49.9 Gk he also mentioned Job

who held fast to all the ways of justice.49.9 Heb Compare Syr: Meaning of Gk uncertain

10May the bones of the Twelve Prophets

send forth new life from where they lie,

for they comforted the people of Jacob

and delivered them with confident hope.

11How shall we magnify Zerubbabel?

He was like a signet ring on the right hand,

12and so was Jeshua son of Jozadak;

in their days they built the house

and raised a temple49.12 Other ancient authorities read people holy to the Lord,

destined for everlasting glory.

13The memory of Nehemiah also is lasting;

he raised our fallen walls,

and set up gates and bars,

and rebuilt our ruined houses.

Retrospect

14Few have49.14 Heb Syr: Gk No one has ever been created on earth like Enoch,

for he was taken up from the earth.

15Nor was anyone ever born like Joseph;49.15 Heb Syr: Gk adds the leader of his brothers, the support of the people

even his bones were cared for.

16Shem and Seth and Enosh were honoured,49.16 Heb: Gk Shem and Seth were honoured by people

but above every other created living being was Adam.