1 Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers that begat us.
2 The Lord hath wrought great glory by them through his great power from the beginning.
3 Such as did bear rule in their kingdoms, men renowned for their power, giving counsel by their understanding, and declaring prophecies:
4 Leaders of the people by their counsels, and by their knowledge of learning meet for the people, wise and eloquent are their instructions:
5 Such as found out musical tunes, and recited verses in writing:
6 Rich men furnished with ability, living peaceably in their habitations:
7 All these were honoured in their generations, and were the glory of their times.
8 There be of them, that have left a name behind them, that their praises might be reported.
9 And 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.
10 But these were merciful men, whose righteousness hath not been forgotten.
11 With their seed shall continually remain a good inheritance, and their children are within the covenant.
12 Their seed standeth fast, and their children for their sakes.
13 Their seed shall remain for ever, and their glory shall not be blotted out.
14 Their bodies are buried in peace; but their name liveth for evermore.
15 The people will tell of their wisdom, and the congregation will shew forth their praise.
16 Enoch pleased the Lord, and was translated, being an example of repentance to all generations.
17 Noah 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.
18 An everlasting covenant was made with him, that all flesh should perish no more by the flood.
19 Abraham was a great father of many people: in glory was there none like unto him;
20 Who 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.
21 Therefore 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.
22 With Isaac did he establish likewise for Abraham his father’s sake the blessing of all men, and the covenant, And 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.
Sentēvu slavinājums
1 Tad nu teiksim augsti godājamus vīrus,
mūsu tēvus, katru savā paaudzē, –
2 lielu godību ir radījis Kungs
ar savu diženumu, kas viņam piemīt kopš mūžības.
3 Tie ir bijuši valdnieki savās ķēniņvalstīs,
vīri ar vārdu, apveltīti ar spēku,
padomdevēji, ar izpratni apveltīti,
ar saviem pravietojumiem – vēstītāji.
4 Tie ir bijuši vadoņi tautai – ar saviem padomiem,
ar savu izpratni tautas gudrībā,
gudri vārdos un savā mācībā,
5 mūzikas melodiju atradēji,
teicēji – dzeju rakstītāji,
6 bagāti vīri, kam varas atliku likām,
kas mierā savās mājās mājojuši.
7 Visus tos godāja laikabiedri,
tie bija sava laikmeta lepnums.
8 To vidū ir tādi, kas atstājuši aiz sevis vārdu,
un par tādiem stāsta ar atzinību;
9 bet ir arī tie, kas piemiņā nav palikuši,
pazuduši, it kā nemaz nebūtu dzīvojuši,
kļuvuši par tādiem, kuru nav bijis,
un līdz ar pašiem – to bērni.
10 Bet ar žēlsirdīgajiem nav noticis tā,
nav aizmirsti viņu taisnīgie darbi;
11 līdz ar viņu pēcnācējiem saglabājas
to krietnais mantojums – bērnubērni.
12 Uzticīgi derībai ir viņu pēcnācēji,
pateicoties tiem, arī viņu bērni;
13 mūžam paliks viņu pēcnācēji,
neizdzēšama būs viņu slava.
14 Mierā ir guldītas viņu miesas,
paaudžu paaudzēs dzīvos vārds:
15 par viņa gudrību stāstīs tautas,
un viņu slavu sapulcējušies teiks.
16 Hanohs iepatikās Kungam un tika
uzņemts debesīs,
atgriešanās paraugs paaudžu paaudzēs.
17 Par pilnīgu un taisnīgu tika atzīts Noa,
kas kļuva par aizvietotāju, pienākot dusmu laikam,
tādēļ uz zemes atlikums saglabājās,
kad uznāca plūdi.
18 Kungs noslēdza ar viņu mūžīgu derību:
nekad vairs plūdi neizdeldēs dzīvo radību.
19 Ābrahāms – dižs daudzu tautu tēvs,
kam godības ziņā nav atzīts līdzīgs neviens,
20 Visuaugstākā bauslību ievēroja,
ar Visuaugstāko stājās derībā;
derību apliecinājis ar savu miesu,
pārbaudījumā tika atzīts uzticams.
21 Tādēļ, ar zvērestu apliecinot, Kungs apsolīja
tautas svētīt ar viņa pēcnācējiem,
tos vairot kā smilšu graudus
un godā celt kā zvaigznes,
tiem piešķirt mantojumu: no jūras līdz jūrai,
no Eifrātas līdz pašām zemes malām.
22 Un tāpat viņš apsolīja Īzakam
viņa tēva Ābrahāma dēļ
23 svētību visām tautām;
un derību viņš guldīja uz galvas Jēkabam.
Ar savu svētību Kungs viņu atzina,
piešķīra mantojumu, noteica robežas
un sadalīja divpadsmit ciltīs,
