Sirach Chapter 44

The praises of the holy father, in particular of Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

English (Douay-Rheims)

1 Let us now praise men of renown and our fathers in their generation.
2 The Lord hath wrought great glory through his magnificence from the beginning.
3 Such as have borne rule in their dominions, men of great power, and endued with their wisdom, showing forth in the prophets the dignity of prophets,
4 And ruling over the present people, and by the strength of wisdom instructing the people in most holy words.
5 Such as by their skill sought out musical tunes, and published canticles of the scriptures.
6 Rich men in virtue, studying beautifulness: living at peace in their houses.
7 All these have gained glory in their generations, and were praised in their days.
8 They that were born of them have left a name behind them, that their praises might be related:
9 And there are some, of whom there is no memorial: who are perished, as if they had never been: and are become as if they had never been born, and their children with them.
10 But these were men of mercy, whose godly deeds have not failed:
11 Good things continue with their seed,
12 Their posterity are a holy inheritance, and their seed hath stood in the covenants.
13 And their children for their sakes remain for ever: their seed and their glory shall not be forsaken.
14 Their bodies are buried in peace, and their name liveth unto generation and generation.
15 Let the people show forth their wisdom, and the church declare their praise.

16 Henoch pleased God, and was translated into paradise, that he may give repentance to the nations.
17 Noe was found perfect, just, and in the time of wrath he was made a reconciliation.
18 Therefore was there a remnant left to the earth, when the flood came.
19 The covenants of the world were made with him, that all flesh should no more be destroyed with the flood.

20 Abraham was the great father of a multitude of nations, and there was not found the like to him in glory, who kept the law of the most High, and was in covenant with him.
21 In his flesh he established the covenant, and in temptation he was found faithful.
22 Therefore by an oath he gave him glory in his posterity, that he should increase as the dust of the earth,
23 And that he would exalt his seed as the stars, and they should inherit from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth.
24 And he did in like manner with Isaac for the sake of Abraham his father.
25 The Lord gave him the blessing of all nations, and confirmed his covenant upon the head of Jacob.
26 He acknowledged him in his blessings, and gave him an inheritance, and divided him his portion in twelve tribes.
27 And he preserved for him men of mercy, that found grace in the eyes of all flesh.

Old Testament first published 1609 by the English College at Douay
New Testament first published 1582 by the English College at Rheims
Revised and Annotated 1749 by Bishop Richard Challoner
Imprimatur. +James Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore, September 1, 1899

Latin (Clementine Vulgate)

1 Laudemus viros gloriosos,
et parentes nostros in generatione sua.
2 Multam gloriam fecit Dominus:
magnificentia sua a sæculo.
3 Dominantes in potestatibus suis,
homines magni virtute et prudentia sua præditi,
nuntiantes in prophetis dignitatem prophetarum:
4 et imperantes in præsenti populo,
et virtute prudentiæ populis sanctissima verba:
5 in peritia sua requirentes modos musicos,
et narrantes carmina Scripturarum:
6 homines divites in virtute,
pulchritudinis studium habentes,
pacificantes in domibus suis.
7 Omnes isti in generationibus gentis suæ gloriam adepti sunt,
et in diebus suis habentur in laudibus.
8 Qui de illis nati sunt reliquerunt nomen
narrandi laudes eorum.
9 Et sunt quorum non est memoria:
perierunt quasi qui non fuerint:
et nati sunt quasi non nati,
et filii ipsorum cum ipsis.
10 Sed illi viri misericordiæ sunt,
quorum pietates non defuerunt.
11 Cum semine eorum permanent bona:
12 hæreditas sancta nepotes eorum,
et in testamentis stetit semen eorum:
13 et filii eorum propter illos usque in æternum manent:
semen eorum et gloria eorum non derelinquetur.
14 Corpora ipsorum in pace sepulta sunt,
et nomen eorum vivit in generationem et generationem.
15 Sapientiam ipsorum narrent populi,
et laudem eorum nuntiet ecclesia.

16 Enoch placuit Deo, et translatus est in paradisum,
ut det gentibus pœnitentiam.
17 Noë inventus est perfectus, justus,
et in tempore iracundiæ factus est reconciliatio.
18 Ideo dimissum est reliquum terræ,
cum factum est diluvium.
19 Testamenta sæculi posita sunt apud illum,
ne deleri possit diluvio omnis caro.

20 Abraham magnus pater multitudinis gentium,
et non est inventus similis illi in gloria:
qui conservavit legem Excelsi,
et fuit in testamento cum illo.
21 In carne ejus stare fecit testamentum,
et in tentatione inventus est fidelis.
22 Ideo jurejurando dedit illi gloriam in gente sua,
crescere illum quasi terræ cumulum,
23 et ut stellas exaltare semen ejus,
et hæreditare illos a mari usque ad mare,
et a flumine usque ad terminos terræ.
24 Et in Isaac eodem modo fecit,
propter Abraham patrem ejus.
25 Benedictionem omnium gentium dedit illi Dominus,
et testamentum confirmavit super caput Jacob.
26 Agnovit eum in benedictionibus suis,
et dedit illi hæreditatem,
et divisit illi partem in tribubus duodecim.
27 Et conservavit illi homines misericordiæ,
invenientes gratiam in oculis omnis carnis.

Transcribed as part of the Clementine Vulgate Project
Please notify the original transcriber (little.mouth@soon.com) of any errors in this Latin edition