never been born, and their glory was there none like children after them. unto him:

10 But these were merciful men, whose righteousness hath not been forgotten.

20 Who kept the law of the most High, and was in covenant with him: he eftablifhed the covenant in his flesh, and when he was prov

II With their feed fhall continually remain a good inheritance, and their chil-ed, he was found faithful. dren are within the covenant.

12 Their feed ftands faft, and their children for their fakes.

13 Their feed fhall remain for ever, and their glory fhall not be blotted out.

14 Their bodies are buried in peace, but their name liveth for evermore.

15 The people will tell of their wisdom, and the congregation will fhew forth their praise.

16 Enoch pleased the Lord, and was tranflated, being an example of repentance to all generations.

17 Noah was found perfect and righteous in the time of wrath, he was taken in exchange [for the world;] therefore was he left as a remnant unto the earth, when the flood came.

18 An everlasting covenant was made with him, that all flesh should perish no more by the flood.

19 Abraham was a great father of many people: in

21 Therefore he affured him by an oath, that he would blefs the nations in his feed, and that he would multiply him as the duft of the earth, and exalt his feed as the stars, and cause them to inherit from sea to sea, and from the river unto the utmost part of the land.

22 With Ifaac did he eftablish likewife [for Abraham his father's fake] the bleffing of all men, and the

covenant,

23 And made it reft upon the head of Jacob. He acknowledged him in his bleffing, and gave him an heritage, and divided his portions; among the twelve tribes did he part them.

CHAP. L. IMON the high priest, the son of Onias, who in his life repaired the house again, and in his days fortified the temple.

2 And by him was built the foundation the double height, the high fortress of

the

the wall about the temple.

3 In his days the ciftern to receive water, being in compass as the fea, was covered with plates of brass.

4 He took care of the temple, that it should not fall, and fortified the city against befieging.

5 How was he honoured in the midst of the people, in his coming out of the fanctuary!

the garment of holiness honourable.

12 When he took the portions out of the priests hands, he himself stood by the hearth of the altar, compaffed with his brethren. round about, as a young cedar in Libanus, and as palmtrees compaffed they him round about.

13 So were all the fons of Aaron, in their glory, and the oblations of the Lord in their hands, before all the congregation of If

6 He was as the morning ftar in the midst of a cloud, and as the moon at the full: 7 As the fun fhining up-rael. on the temple of the most High, and as the rainbow giving light in the bright clouds:

8 And as the flower of rofes in the spring of the year, as lilies by the rivers of waters, and as the branches of the frankincenfe tree in the time of fummer:

9 As fire and incenfe in the cenfer, and as a veffel of beaten gold fet with all manner of precious stones:

14 And finishing the fervice at the altar, that he might adorn the offering of the most high Almighty,

15 He ftretched out his hand to the cup, and poured of the blood of the grape, he poured out as the foot of the altar, a sweet-smelling favour unto the most high King of all.

16 Then fhouted the fons of Aaron, and founded the filver trumpets, and made a 10 And as a fair olive-great noife to be heard, for tree budding forth fruit a remembrance before the and as a cypress-tree which moft High. groweth up to the clouds.

II When he put on the robe of honour, and was clothed with the perfection of glory, when he went up to the holy altar, he made

17 Then all the people together hafted, and fell down to the earth upon their faces to worship their Lord God Almighty, the moft High.

18 The fingers alfo fang

praifes

praises with their voices, with great variety of founds was there made fweet melody.

19 And the people befought the Lord the moft High, by prayer before him that is merciful, till the folemnity of the Lord was ended, and they had finished his fervice.

20 Then he went down, and lifted up his hands over the whole congregation of the children of Ifrael, to give the bleffing of the Lord with his lips, and to rejoice in his

name,

21 And they bowed themfelyes down to worship the fecond time, that they might receive a bleffing from the moft High.

22 Now therefore blefs ye the God of all, which only doeth wondrous things every where, which exalteth our days from the womb, and dealeth with us according to

his mercy.

23 He grant us joyfulness of heart, and that peace may be in our days in Ifrael for

ever.

24 That he would confirm his mercy with us, and deliver us at his time.

25 There be two manner of nations which my heart abhorreth, and the third is no nation:

mountain of Samaria, and they that dwell amongst the Philistines, and that foolish people that dwell in Sichem.

27 Jefus the fon of Sirach of Jerufalem hath written in this book, the inftruction of understanding and knowledge, who out of his heart poured forth wisdom.

28 Bleffed is he that shall be exercifed in these things, and he that layeth them up in his heart fhall become wife.

29 For if he do them, he fhall be ftrong to all things: for the light of the Lord leadeth him, who giveth wifdom to the godly. Bleffed be the Lord for ever. Amen, Amen.

CHAP. LI.

Will thank thee, O Lord and King, and praife thee, O God my Saviour, I do give praife unto thy name:

2 For thou art my defender and helper, and haft preferved my body from deftruction, and from the fnare of the flanderous tongue, and from the lips that forge lies, and haft been mine helper against mine adversaries:

3 And haft delivered me according to the multitude

26 They that fit upon the of thy mercies, and greatness

of

16 I bowed down mine 8 Then thought I upon ear a little, and received her, thy mercy, O Lord, and up-and gat much learning. on thy acts of old, how thou 171 profited therein, theredelivereft fuch as wait for fore will I afcribe the glory thee, and faveft them out of unto him that giveth me wifthe hands of the enemies. dom.

20 I directed my foul unto | and faid, Buy her for yourher, and I found her in pure- felves without money. nefs: I have had my heart 26 Put your neck under joined with her from the be- the yoke, and let your foul ginning, therefore fhall I not receive instruction; fhe is be forfaken.

FINI S.

PP