Elijah
Wisdom of Sirach 48, verse 1. Then Elijah the prophet rose up like fire, And his word burned like a lamp. Wisdom of Sirach 48, verse 2. He brought a famine upon them, And in his zeal he reduced them in number. Wisdom of Sirach 48, verse 3. By the word of the Lord he shut up heaven, And also three times he brought down fire. Wisdom of Sirach 48, verse 4. So by your wonders you were honored, O Elijah, And who can boast like you? Wisdom of Sirach 48, verse 5. You raised the dead from death And from Hades by the word of the Most High. Wisdom of Sirach 48, verse 6. You brought down kings to destruction, And from their bed, those who had been honored. Wisdom of Sirach 48, verse 7. You heard rebuke at Sinai, And at Horeb the judgments of punishment. Wisdom of Sirach 48, verse 8. You anointed kings for retribution And prophets to serve after you. Wisdom of Sirach 48, verse 9. You were taken up in a fiery whirlwind, In a chariot of flaming horses. Wisdom of Sirach 48, verse 10. It is written that you will come at the proper time with rebukes To calm the wrath of God before it breaks forth in fury, To turn the heart of the father to the son, And to restore the tribes of Jacob. Wisdom of Sirach 48, verse 11. Blessed are those who saw you And who fell asleep with love, For indeed we will surely live.
Elisha
Wisdom of Sirach 48, verse 12. Elijah was covered by the whirlwind, And Elisha was filled with his spirit. And in his days he trembled before no ruler, Andno one oppressed him. Wisdom of Sirach 48, verse 13. No word could overcome him, And after death his body prophesied. Wisdom of Sirach 48, verse 14. As in his life he did wonders, So even in death his works were amazing. Wisdom of Sirach 48, verse 15. For all these things the people did not repent, Nor did they turn away from their sins Until their land was plundered; Then they were scattered over all the earth. Wisdom of Sirach 48, verse 16. But a people few in number were left And a ruler in the house of David. Some of them did what was virtuous, But some multiplied sins.
Hezekiah and Isaiah
Wisdom of Sirach 48, verse 17. Hezekiah fortified his city And brought water into its midst. He dug through the hard rock with iron And constructed cisterns for the water. Wisdom of Sirach 48, verse 18. In his days, Sennacherib came up And sent out the Rabshakeh, and he retreated. Then he lifted up his hand against Zion And boasted in his arrogance. Wisdom of Sirach 48, verse 19. So their hearts and hands were shaken, And they suffered pain like women giving birth. Wisdom of Sirach 48, verse 20. Then they called upon the merciful Lord, Stretching out their hands toward Him. Thus the Holy One quickly heard them from heaven And rescued them by the hand of Isaiah. Wisdom of Sirach 48, verse 21. He struck the camp of the Assyrians, And his angel destroyed them. Wisdom of Sirach 48, verse 22. For Hezekiah did what was pleasing to the Lord And grew strong in the ways of David his father, Which Isaiah the prophet commanded, The one great and faithful in his vision. Wisdom of Sirach 48, verse 23. In his days the sun moved backward And lengthened the life of the king. Wisdom of Sirach 48, verse 24. With a great spirit he saw the last things And encouraged those who mourned in Zion. Wisdom of Sirach 48, verse 25. He showed what was to come to the end of time, And the hidden things before they came to pass.