Chapter 44

¹Let us now praise men of renown, and our fathers in their generation. ²The Lord hath wrought great glory through his magnificence from the beginning. ³Such as have borne rule in their dominions, men of great power, and endued with their wisdom, shewing forth in the prophets the dignity of prophets, ⁴And ruling over the present people, and by the strength of wisdom instructing the people in most holy words. ⁵Such as by their skill sought out musical tunes, and published canticles of the scriptures. ⁶Rich men in virtue, studying beautifulness: living at peace in their houses. ⁷All these have gained glory in their generations, and were praised in their days. ⁸They that were born of them have left a name behind them, that their praises might be related: ⁹And there are some, of whom there is no memorial: who are perished, as if they had never been: and are become as if they had never been born, and their children with them. ¹⁰But these were men of mercy, whose godly deeds have not failed: ¹¹Good things continue with their seed, ¹²Their posterity are a holy inheritance, and their seed hath stood in the covenants. ¹³And their children for their sakes remain for ever: their seed and their glory shall not be forsaken. ¹⁴Their bodies are buried in peace, and their name liveth unto generation and generation. ¹⁵Let the people shew forth their wisdom, and the church declare their praise. ¹⁶Henoch pleased God, and was translated into paradise, that he may give repentance to the nations. ¹⁷Noe was found perfect, just, and in the time of wrath he was made a reconciliation. ¹⁸Therefore was there a remnant left to the earth, when the flood came. ¹⁹The covenants of the world were made with him, that all flesh should no more be destroyed with the hood. ²⁰Abraham was the great father of a multitude of nations, and there was not found the like to him in glory, who kept the law of the most High, and was in covenant with him. ²¹In his flesh he established the covenant, and in temptation he was found faithful. ²²Therefore by an oath he gave him glory in his posterity, that he should increase as the dust of the earth, ²³And that he would exalt his seed as the stars, and they should inherit from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth. ²⁴And he did in like manner with Isaac for the sake of Abraham his father. ²⁵The Lord gave him the blessing of all nations, and confirmed his covenant upon the head of Jacob. ²⁶He acknowledged him in his blessings, and gave him an inheritance, and divided him his portion in twelve tribes. ²⁷And he preserved for him men of mercy, that found grace in the eyes of all flesh.