THE WISDOME OF Iesus the sonne of Sirach, Or Ecclesiasticus.
Introductory matter
A Prologue made by an vncertaine Authour.
This Iesus was the sonne of Sirach, and grand-childe to Iesus of the same name with him; This man therefore liued in the latter times, after the people had bene led away captiue, and called home againe, and almost after all the Prophets. [ Note: Some referre this Prologue to Athanasius, because it is found in his Synopsis.] Now his grandfather Iesus (as he himselfe witnesseth) was a man of great diligence and wisedome among the Hebrewes, who did not onely gather the graue and short Sentences of wise men, that had bene before him, but himselfe also vttered some of his owne, full of much vnderstanding and wisedome. When as therefore the first Iesus died, leauing this booke almost [ Note: Or, collected.] perfected, Sirach his sonne receiuing it after him, left it to his owne sonne Iesus, who hauing gotten it into his hands, compiled it all orderly into one Uolume, and called it Wisdome, Intituling it, both by his owne name, his fathers name, and his grandfathers, alluring the hearer by the very name of Wisedome, to haue a greater loue to the studie of this Booke. It conteineth therefore wise Sayings, darke Sentences, and Parables, and certaine particular ancient godly stories of men that pleased God. Also his Prayer and Song. Moreouer, what benefits God had vouchsafed his people, and what plagues he had heaped vpon their enemies. This Iesus did imitate Solomon, and was no lesse famous for Wisedome, and learning, both being indeed a man of great learning, and so reputed also.
The Prologue of the Wisdome of Iesus the sonne of Sirach.
Whereas many and great things haue bene deliuered vnto vs by the Law and the Prophets, and by others that haue followed their steps, for the which things Israel ought to be commended for learning and Wisedome, and whereof not onely the Readers must needs become skilful themselues, but also they that desire to learne, be able to profit them which are [ Note: Or, of an other nation.] without, both by speaking and writing: My grandfather Iesus, when he had much giuen himselfe to the reading of the Law, and the Prophets, and other Bookes of our fathers, and had gotten therein good iudgement, was drawen on also himselfe, to write something pertayning to learning and Wisedome, to the intent that those which are desirous to learne, and are addicted to these things, might profit much more in liuing according to the Law. Wherefore, let me intreat you to reade it with fauour and attention, and to pardon Us, wherein wee may seeme to come short of some words which we haue laboured to interprete. For the same things vttered in Hebrew, and translated into an other tongue, haue not the same force in them: and not onely these things, but the Law it selfe, and the [ Note: Greek: prophecies.] Prophets, and the rest of the Bookes, haue no small [ Note: Or, excellencie.] difference, when they are spoken in their owne language. For in the eight and thirtieth yeere coming into Egypt, when Euergetes was King, and continuing there sometime, I found a [ Note: Or, helpe of learning.] Booke of no small learning, therefore I thought it most necessary for mee, to bestow some diligence and trauaile to interprete it: Using great watchfulnesse, and skill in that space, to bring the Booke to an end, and set it foorth for them also, which in a strange countrey are willing to learne, being prepared before in maners to liue after the Law.
Eclesiástico 48,1-25
Chapter XLVIII.
1 The praise of Elias, 12 of Elizeus, 17 and of Ezekias.
1 Then stood vp [ 1Ki_17:1.] Elias the Prophet as fire, and his word burnt like a lampe.
2 He brought a sore famine vpon them, and by his zeale he diminished their number.
3 By the word of the Lord he [ Or, made heauen to holde vp.] shut vp the heauen, [ 1Ki_18:38; 2Ki_1:10; 2Ki_1:12.] and also three times brought downe fire.
4 O Elias, how wast thou honoured in thy wondrous deedes! and who may glory like vnto thee!
5 [ 1Ki_17:21-22.] Who didst raise vp a dead man from death, & his soule from the [ Or, graue.] place of the dead by the word of the most Hie.
6 [ 2Ki_1:16.] Who broughtest kings to destruction, and honourable men from their [ Or, seate.] bedde.
7 Who heardest the rebuke of the Lord in Sinai, [ 1Ki_19:15.] and in Horeb the iudgment of vengeance.
8 [ 1Ki_19:16.] Who anointed kings to take reuenge, & Prophets to succeed after him:
9 [ 2Ki_2:11.] Who wast taken vp in a whirlewinde of fire, and in a charet of fierie horses:
10 Who wast [ Or, written of.] ordained [ Mal_4:3.] for reproofes in their times, to pacifie the wrath of the Lordes iudgement before it brake foorth into fury, and to turne the heart of the father vnto the sonne, and to [ Or, establish.] restore the tribes of Iacob.
11 Blessed are they that saw thee, and [ Or, were adorned with loue.] slept in loue, for we shal surely liue.
12 [ 2Ki_2:11; 2Ki_2:15.] Elias it was, who was couered with a whirlewinde: and Elizeus was filled with his spirit: whilest he liued he was not mooued [with the presence.] of any prince, neither could any bring him into subiection.
13 [ Or, Nothing.] No word could ouercome him, [ 2Ki_13:21.] & after his death his body prophecied.
14 He did wonders in his life, and at his death were his works marueilous.
15 For all this the people repented not, neither departed they from their sinnes, [ 2Ki_18:11-12.] till they were spoiled and caried out of their land, and were scattered through all the earth: yet there remained a small people, and a ruler in the house of Dauid:
16 Of whom, some did that which was pleasing to God, and some multiplied sinnes.
17 [ 2Ki_18:2.] Ezekias fortified his citie, and brought in water into the midst thereof: he digged the hard rocke with yron, and made welles for waters.
18 In his time [ 2Ki_18:13.] Sennacherib came vp, and sent Rabsaces, and lift vp his hand against Sion, & boasted proudly.
19 Then trembled their hearts and handes, and they were in paine as women in trauell.
20 But they called vpon the Lord which is mercifull, and stretched out their hands towards him, and immediatly the holy One heard them out of heauen, and deliuered them by the [ Or, hand.] ministery of Esay.
21 [ 2Ki_19:35; Isa_37:36; Tob_1:18; 1Ma_7:41; 2Ma_8:19.] He smote the hoste of the Assyrians, and his Angel destroyed them.
22 For Ezekias had done the thing that pleased the Lord, and was strong in the wayes of Dauid his father, as Esay the Prophet, who was great and faithfull in his vision, had commaunded him.
23 [ 2Ki_20:10; Isa_38:8.] In his time the Sunne went backeward, and hee lengthened the kings life.
24 Hee sawe by an excellent spirit what should come to passe at the last, and hee comforted them that mourned in Sion.
25 He shewed what should come to passe for euer, and secret things or euer they came.