Sirach 48

1Then a prophet arose like fire, and his words were like a burning furnace.

2He broke their staff of bread, and in his zeal he diminished them.

3By his word he restrained the heavens, and brought down fire three times.

4How fearsome you are, Elijah! And who like you can boast?

5who raised up a corpse from death, and from Sheol, by the will of Yahweh.

6who brought down kings to destruction, and nobles from their beds.

7who anointed one for acts of retribution, and a prophet as your successor.

8You made heard at Sinai rebukes, and at Horeb judgments of vengeance.

9who was taken up into the heavens in a storm, and in ranks of fire.

10who was appointed for the appointed time, to calm wrath before fury, to turn the heart of fathers to sons, and to restore the tribes of Israel.

11Happy is the one who saw you and died, and happy are you, for you will surely live.

12Elijah was hidden in the storehouse, and Elisha was filled with his spirit. Twice as many signs, and many wonders, came from his mouth.

13In his days he did not tremble before anyone, and no flesh mastered his spirit. No word was too wondrous for him, and beneath him his flesh was created.

14In his life he did wonders, and in his death his works were marvelous.

15Yet for all this the people did not turn back, and they did not cease from their sins, until they were uprooted from their land and were scattered throughout the earth.

16A remnant was left to Judah, and to the house of David a ruler. Some of them did what was right, but some of them greatly increased apostasy.

17Hezekiah fortified his city, and brought water into its midst; he cut through rock like bronze, and dammed up a reservoir in the mountains.

18In his days Sennacherib came up and sent Rabshakeh; he stretched out his hand against Zion and blasphemed in his pride.

19Then they melted in the pride of their heart, and they writhed like a woman giving birth.

20Then they called to God Most High, and spread out their hands to him.

21He struck the camp of Assyria, and threw it into confusion with a plague.

22For Hezekiah did what was good, and was strong in the ways of David, as Isaiah the prophet commanded him, the one praised among the prophets.

23In his days the sun stood still, and life was added to the king.

24By a spirit of might he saw the end, and he comforted the mourners of Zion.

25He declared what would be forever, and hidden things before they came.