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1Let us now sing the praises of famous men,
our ancestors in their generations.
2The Lord apportioned to them great glory,[#44.2 Heb: Gk created]
his majesty from the beginning.
3There were those who ruled in their kingdoms[#Sir 39.1]
and made a name for themselves by their strength;
those who gave counsel because they were intelligent;
those who spoke in prophetic oracles;
4those who led the people by their counsels
and by their knowledge of the people’s lore;
they were wise in their words of instruction;
5those who composed musical tunes[#Sir 47.8–10]
or put verses in writing;
6rich men endowed with resources,
living peacefully in their homes—
7all these were honored in their generations
and were the pride of their times.
8Some of them have left behind a name,
so that others declare their praise.
9But of others there is no memory;[#Ob 16; Wis 2.2]
they have perished as though they had never existed;
they have become as though they had never been born,
they and their children after them.
10But these also were men of compassion
whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten;
11their wealth will remain with their descendants[#Ps 112.3]
and their inheritance with their children’s children.
12Their descendants stand by the covenants;
their children also, for their sake.
13Their offspring will continue forever,[#Sir 39.9]
and their glory will never be blotted out.
14Their bodies are buried in peace,[#Gen 15.15]
but their name lives on generation after generation.
15The assembly declares their wisdom,[#Sir 39.10; #44.15 Heb: Gk Peoples declare]
and the congregation proclaims their praise.
16Enoch pleased the Lord and was taken up,[#Gen 5.24]
an example of repentance to all generations.
17Noah was found perfect and righteous;[#Gen 6.9; 1 Pet 3.20; 2 Pet 2.5]
in the time of wrath he kept humanity alive;
because of him a remnant was left on the earth
when the flood came.
18Everlasting covenants were made with him[#Gen 9.11]
that all flesh should never again be blotted out by a flood.
19Abraham was the great father of a multitude of nations,[#Gen 12.2; 15.5]
and no one has been found like him in glory.
20He kept the law of the Most High[#Gen 17.10, 11; 22.1; Heb 11.17]
and entered into a covenant with him;
he certified the covenant in his flesh,
and when he was tested he proved faithful.
21Therefore the Lord assured him with an oath[#Gen 13.16; 15.5, 18; 22.16–18; #44.21 Gk he]
that the nations would be blessed through his offspring,
that he would make him as numerous as the dust of the earth
and exalt his offspring like the stars
and give them an inheritance from sea to sea
and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth.
22To Isaac also he gave the same assurance[#Gen 26.3–5]
for the sake of his father Abraham.
The blessing of all people and a covenant
23he made to rest on the head of Jacob;[#Gen 27.28, 29; 28.14; 49.28]
he acknowledged him with his blessings
and gave him his inheritance;
he divided his portions
and distributed them among twelve tribes.
From his descendants the Lord brought forth a man of compassion
who found favor in the sight of all