Глава 48

Glorification of the providence of the Lord in people through the prophet Elijah, the prophet Elisha, the prophet Isaiah, the piety and wisdom of King Hezekiah. Sir.48:1 And Elijah the prophet rose up like fire, and his word burned like a lamp. Sir.48:2 He brought famine upon them, and through his jealousy he diminished their number; Sir.48:3 With the word of the Lord he shut up the heavens and brought down fire three times. Sir.48:4 How famous you are, Elijah, for your miracles, and who can compare with you in glory! Sir.48:5 You raised up the dead from death and from hell by the word of the Most High; Sir.48:6 You brought down kings and nobles from their beds to destruction; Sir.48:7 You heard the reproach against them at Sinai, and the judgments of vengeance at Horeb; Sir.48:8 You have anointed kings for reward and prophets to be your successors; Sir.48:9 You were caught up in a fiery whirlwind on a chariot with fiery horses; Sir.48:10 You were destined for reproof in your times, to calm anger before it turned into rage, to turn the heart of a father to a son and to restore the tribes of Jacob. Sir.48:11 Blessed are those who have seen you and are adorned with love, and we will live life. Sir.48:12 Elijah was hidden by a whirlwind, and Elisha was filled with his spirit Sir.48:13 And in his days he did not tremble before the prince, and no one prevailed over him; Sir.48:14 nothing prevailed against him, and after his dormition his body prophesied. Sir.48:15 And during his life he performed miracles, and after his death his works were wondrous. 1–15. Wed. 1 Kings XVII-XIX, XXI; 2 Kings I-X, XIII. Sir.48:16 For all this, the people did not repent and did not turn away from their sins, until they were taken captive from their land and scattered throughout the whole earth. Sir.48:17 And there remained very few people and a prince from the house of David. Sir.48:18 Some of them did what was pleasing to God, and some multiplied their sins. Sir.48:19 Hezekiah fortified his city and brought water into it, pierced the rock with iron and built reservoirs for the water. Sir.48:20 In his days Sennacherib made an invasion and sent Rabshakeh to him, who raised his hand against Zion and was greatly magnified in his pride. Sir.48:21 Then their hearts and hands trembled, and they were tormented like women in labor; Sir.48:22 And they cried out to the merciful Lord, stretching out their hands to Him, Sir.48:23 And the Holy One quickly heard them from heaven and delivered them by the hand of Isaiah; Sir.48:24 He defeated the army of the Assyrians, and His angel destroyed them, Sir.48:25 For Hezekiah did what was pleasing to the Lord and held fast to the ways of David his father, as the prophet Isaiah, great and faithful in his visions, commanded. Sir.48:26 In his days the sun receded, and he added life to the king. 19–26. Wed. 2 Kings XVIII-XX; 2 Par. XXIX-XXXII. Sir.48:27 With his great spirit he foresaw the distant future and comforted those who mourned in Zion; Sir.48:28 He proclaimed the future and the hidden things until the ages, before they were fulfilled. 27–28. This refers to the prophecies of Isaiah about the Lord's mercy on the chosen city, about the coming of the Messiah and the saving power of His blessed kingdom.