In Praise of the Fathers
Sirach 44
The chapter opens a tribute to famous men and ancestors whom the Lord made glorious through their rule, counsel, wisdom, or righteousness, distinguishing those remembered by name from others forgotten as though they had never been. It begins recounting this praise with Enoch, Noah, and Abraham, and the covenant renewed through Isaac and Jacob.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
1
BrentonLet us now praise famous men, and our fathers that begat us.
GreekΑἰνέσωμεν δὴ ἄνδρας ἐνδόξους, καὶ τοὺς πατέρας ἡμῶν τῇ γενέσει.
2
BrentonThe Lord hath wrought great glory by them through his great power from the beginning.
GreekΠολλὴν δόξαν ἔκτισεν ὁ Κύριος, τὴν μεγαλωσύνην αὐτοῦ ἀπʼ αἰῶνος.
3
BrentonSuch as did bear rule in their kingdoms, men renowned for their power, giving counsel by their understanding, and declaring prophecies:
GreekΚυριεύοντες ἐν ταῖς βασιλείαις αὐτῶν, καὶ ἄνδρες ὀνομαστοὶ ἐν δυνάμει· βουλεύσονται ἐν συνέσει αὐτῶν, ἀπηγγελκότες ἐν προφητείαις·
4
Brentonleaders of the people by their counsels, and by their knowledge of learning meet for the people, wise and eloquent in their instruction:
Greekἡγούμενοι λαοῦ ἐν διαβουλίοις, καὶ συνέσει γραμματείας λαοῦ· σοφοὶ λόγοι ἐν παιδείᾳ αὐτῶν·
5
Brentonsuch as found out musical tunes, and recited verses in writing:
Greekἐκζητοῦντες μέλη μουσικῶν, διηγούμενοι ἔπη ἐν γραφῇ·
6
Brentonrich men furnished with ability, living peaceably in their habitations:
Greekἄνδρες πλούσιοι κεχορηγημένοι ἰσχύϊ, εἰρηνεύοντες ἐν παροικίαις αὐτῶν·
7
Brentonall these were honoured in their generations, and were the glory of their times.
Greekπάντες οὗτοι ἐν γενεαῖς ἐδοξάσθησαν, καὶ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις αὐτῶν καύχημα.
8
BrentonThere be of them that have left a name behind them, that their praises might be reported.
GreekΕἰσὶν αὐτῶν οἳ κατέλιπον ὄνομα τοῦ ἐκδιηγήσασθαι ἐπαίνους·
9
BrentonAnd some there be, which have no memorial; who are perished, as though they had never been; and are become as though they had never been born; and their children after them.
Greekκαὶ εἰσὶν ὧν οὐκ ἔστι μνημόσυνον, καὶ ἀπώλοντο ὡς οὐχ ὑπάρξαντες, καὶ ἐγένοντο ὡς οὐ γεγονότες, καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτῶν μετʼ αὐτούς.
10
BrentonBut these were merciful men, whose righteousness hath not been forgotten.
GreekἈλλʼ ἢ οὗτοι ἄνδρες ἐλέους, ὧν αἱ δικαιοσύναι οὐκ ἐπελήσθησαν.
11
BrentonWith their seed shall continually remain a good inheritance, and their children are within the covenant.
GreekΜετὰ τοῦ σπέρματος αὐτῶν διαμενεῖ ἀγαθὴ κληρονομία, ἔκγονα αὐτῶν ἐν ταῖς διαθήκαις.
12
BrentonTheir seed standeth fast, and their children for their sakes.
GreekἜστη σπέρμα αὐτῶν καὶ τέκνα αὐτῶν διʼ αὐτούς·
13
BrentonTheir seed shall remain for ever, and their glory shall not be blotted out.
Greekἕως αἰῶνος μενεῖ σπέρμα αὐτῶν, καὶ ἡ δόξα αὐτῶν οὐκ. ἐξαλειφθήσεται.
14
BrentonTheir bodies are buried in peace; but their name liveth for evermore.
GreekΤὸ σῶμα αὐτῶν ἐν εἰρήνῃ ἐτάφη, καὶ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῶν ζῇ εἰς γενεάς.
15
BrentonThe people will tell of their wisdom, and the congregation will shew forth their praise.
GreekΣοφίαν αὐτῶν διηγήσονται λαοὶ, καὶ τὸν ἔπαινον ἐξαγγέλλει ἐκκλησία.
16
BrentonEnoch pleased the Lord, and was translated, being an example of repentance to all generations.
GreekἘνὼχ εὐηρέστησε Κυρίῳ, καὶ μετετέθη ὑπόδειγμα μετανοίας ταῖς γενεαῖς.
17
BrentonNoah 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.
GreekΝῶε εὑρέθη τέλειος δίκαιος, ἐν καιρῷ ὀργῆς ἐγένετο ἀντάλλαγμα· διὰ τοῦτο ἐγενήθη κατάλειμμα τῇ γῇ, διὰ τοῦτο ἐγένετο κατακλυσμός.
18
BrentonAn everlasting covenant was made with him, that all flesh shall perish no more by the flood.
GreekΔιαθῆκαι αἰῶνος ἐτέθησαν πρὸς αὐτὸν, ἵνα μὴ ἐξαλειφθῇ κατακλυσμῷ πᾶσα σάρξ.
19
BrentonAbraham was a great father of many people: in glory was there none like unto him;
GreekἉβραὰμ μέγας πατὴρ πλήθους ἐθνῶν, καὶ οὐχ εὑρέθη ὅμοιος ἐν τῇ δόξῃ,
20
Brentonwho kept the law of the most High, and was in covenant with him: he established the covenant in his flesh; and when he was proved, he was found faithful.
Greekὃς συνετήρησε νόμον ὑψίστου, καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν διαθήκῃ μετʼ αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἐν σαρκὶ αὐτοῦ ἔστησε διαθήκην, καὶ ἐν πειρασμῷ εὑρέθη πιστός.
21
BrentonTherefore he assured him by an oath, that he would bless the nations in his seed, and that he would multiply him as the dust of the earth, and exalt his seed as the stars, and cause them to inherit from sea to sea, and from the river unto the utmost part of the land.
GreekΔιὰ τοῦτο ἐν ὅρκῳ ἔστησεν αὐτῷ, ἐνευλογηθῆναι ἔθνη ἐν τῷ σπέρματι αὐτοῦ, πληθύναι αὐτὸν ὡς χοῦν τῆς γῆς, καὶ ὡς ἄστρα ἀνυψῶσαι τὸ σπέρμα αὐτοῦ, καὶ κατακληρονομῆσαι αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ θαλάσσης ἕως θαλάσσης, καὶ ἀπὸ ποταμοῦ ἕως ἄκρου γῆς.
22
BrentonWith Isaac did he establish likewise, for Abraham his father's sake, the blessing of all men, and the covenant,
GreekΚαὶ ἐν τῷ Ἰσαὰκ ἔστησεν οὕτως διὰ Ἁβραὰμ τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ, εὐλογίαν πάντων ἀνθρώπων καὶ διαθήκην.
23
Brentonand made it rest upon the head of Jacob. He acknowledged him in his blessing, and gave him an heritage, and divided his portions; among the twelve tribes did he part them.
GreekΚαὶ κατέπαυσεν ἐπὶ κεφαλὴν Ἰακώβ· ἐπέγνω αὐτὸν ἐν εὐλογίαις αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ἐν κληρονομίᾳ· καὶ διέστειλε μερίδας αὐτοῦ, ἐν φυλαῖς ἐμέρισε δεκαδύο.