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Glorifying the providence of the Lord in people through the piety and wisdom of King Josiah, the prophecies of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, the twelve minor prophets, the pious activities of Zerubbabel, Jesus the son of Josedek, and Nehemiah. Sir.49:1 The memory of Josiah is like a composition of incense prepared by the art of a world-maker: Sir.49:2 In every mouth it will be as sweet as honey and as the music of wine. Sir.49:3 He worked successfully in converting the people and destroyed the abominations of iniquity; Sir.49:4 He directed his heart to the Lord and established piety in the days of lawlessness. 1–4. Wed. 2 Kings XXII-XXIII; 2 Par. XXXIV-XXXV. Sir.49:5 Except David, Hezekiah and Josiah, all sinned gravely, Sir.49:6 For they have forsaken the law of the Most High; the kings of Judah have ceased, Sir.49:7 For they gave their horn to others and their glory to a foreign people. 5–7. Apart from David, Hezekiah and Josiah, all the kings of Judah sinned gravely, for they abandoned the law of the Most High. For their stubborn wickedness, the kings of Judah ceased, i.e. for a time they lost their sovereign power and betrayed their horn (their strength) to other kings, and their glory to a foreign people - the Babylonians. With the end of the Babylonian captivity, the Jews were given the right to once again settle in Palestine and be governed by their own God-given laws in their internal religious and social life. During the period of the glorious Maccabean wars, Judea achieved, together with the right of internal self-government, external political power. Sir.49:8 The chosen city of the sanctuary was burned, and its streets laid waste, as Jeremiah foretold, 8. Wed. 2 Kings XXIV-XXV; 2 Par. XXXVI. Sir.49:9 whom they insulted, although he was consecrated as a prophet while still in the womb, to uproot, smite and destroy, as well as to build and plant. 9 . Wed. Jer. 1:5. He was consecrated as a prophet in order to eradicate, defeat and destroy evil in its various manifestations; as well as building and instilling goodness in the minds and lives of people. Sir.49:10 Ezekiel saw the manifestation of the glory that God showed him in the cherubic chariot; Sir.49:11 he reminded of the enemies under the image of rain and proclaimed good things to those who corrected their ways. 11. He reminded of the enemies who, like rain, would attack the lawless, and, at the same time, announced good things to those who corrected their ways. Sir.49:12 And the twelve prophets - let their bones flourish from their place! - they consoled Jacob and saved them with true hope. Sir.49:13 How shall we exalt Zerubbabel? And he is like a ring on his right hand; Sir.49:14 also Jesus the son of Josedek: in their days they built a house and restored the holy church of the Lord, destined for eternal glory. Sir.49:15 Great is the memory of Nehemiah, who raised up our fallen walls, erected gates and bars, and rebuilt our ruined houses. 15. Wed. book Neh. I-VII. Sir.49:16 There was no one created on earth like Enoch, for he was caught up from the earth, Sir.49:17 And such a man was not born as Joseph, the head of the brothers, the support of the people, and his bones were honored. Sir.49:18 Shem and Seth were famous among people, but above all living things in creation was Adam. 18. Above everything living in creation is the founder of humanity, the forefather Adam.