Sirach 46

1Joshua son of Nun was a mighty warrior, Moses’ attendant in prophecy; he was appointed in his days to be a great salvation for his chosen ones.

2How glorious he was when he stretched out his hand, when he brandished a spear against a city.

3Who could stand before him? For he fought the wars of Yahweh.

4Was it not by his hand that the sun stood still, and one day was like two?

5For he called on God Most High when his enemies pressed him from all around, and God Most High answered him with hailstones and ice-stones.

6He hurled destruction on an enemy nation, and as they fled he wiped them all out, so that every nation might know their ban, for Yahweh watches over their battle.

7Also, because he fully followed God, and in the days of Moses showed loyalty—he and Caleb son of Jephunneh—by standing firm against the assembly's rebellion, to keep the people from sin and to silence wicked grumbling.

8Therefore those two also were spared, out of six hundred thousand foot soldiers, to bring them into an inheritance, into a land flowing with milk and honey.

9And he gave Caleb strength, and it remained with him until old age, so that he went up into the highlands of the land, and his offspring took possession of an inheritance.

10so that all the offspring of Jacob may know that it is good to fully follow Yahweh.

11And the judges, each by his own name—everyone whose heart was not led astray and who did not turn away from God—may their memory be for blessing.

12May their bones blossom like a lily, and may their name be renewed in their sons.

13Beloved by his people and pleasing to his Maker, asked for from his mother's womb, Samuel, a Nazirite of the Lord in prophecy, judged and served as priest; by the word of God he established the kingdom, and anointed rulers over his people.

14At the command of Yahweh he commanded the assembly, and the God of Jacob visited him.

15By the faithfulness of his mouth he was sought out as a seer, and also by his word he was found faithful as a shepherd.

16He too called upon God when his enemies hemmed him in all around; when he offered a milk-fed lamb, Yahweh thundered from heaven.

17In a mighty crash his voice was heard, and the leaders of the foe were subdued, and all the rulers of the Philistines perished.

18And at the time of his resting on his bed, he testified before Yahweh and his anointed one.

19Even up to the time of his end, he was found faithful in the eyes of Yahweh: “I have taken a ransom and hidden it—from whom have I taken anything? And no man answered against him.”

20In the sight of every living thing—and even after his death he was sought out.