1 The remembrance of Josias is like the composition of the perfume that is made by the art of the apothecary: it is sweet as honey in all mouths, and as musick at a banquet of wine.
2 He behaved himself uprightly in the conversion of the people, and took away the abominations of iniquity.
3 He directed his heart unto the Lord, and in the time of the ungodly he established the worship of God.
4 All, except David and Ezekias and Josias, were defective: for they forsook the law of the most High, even the kings of Juda failed.
5 Therefore he gave their power unto others, and their glory to a strange nation.
6 They burnt the chosen city of the sanctuary, and made the streets desolate, according to the prophecy of Jeremias.
7 For they entreated him evil, who nevertheless was a prophet, sanctified in his mother’s womb, that he might root out, and afflict, and destroy; and that he might build up also, and plant.
8 It was Ezekiel who saw the glorious vision, which was shewed him upon the chariot of the cherubims.
9 For he made mention of the enemies under the figure of the rain, and directed them that went right.
10 And of the twelve prophets let the memorial be blessed, and let their bones flourish again out of their place: for they comforted Jacob, and delivered them by assured hope.
11 How shall we magnify Zorobabel? even he was as a signet on the right hand:
12 So was Jesus the son of Josedec: who in their time builded the house, and set up an holy temple to the Lord, which was prepared for everlasting glory.
13 And among the elect was Neemias, whose renown is great, who raised up for us the walls that were fallen, and set up the gates and the bars, and raised up our ruins again.
14 But upon the earth was no man created like Enoch; for he was taken from the earth.
15 Neither was there a young man born like Joseph, a governor of his brethren, a stay of the people, whose bones were regarded of the Lord.
16 Sem and Seth were in great honour among men, and so was Adam above every living thing in creation.
1 Vīraka maisījumam, ko smaržu darinātājs ir gatavojis,
Josijas piemiņa līdzinās,
tā ir visiem uz lūpām, salda kā medus,
kā mūzika dzīrēs – kur vīnu dzer.
2 Viņš gāja taisnu ceļu, atgriežot tautu,
riebīgo likuma neievērošanu iznīdēja,
3 pa taisnu ceļu Dievam pretī vadīja savu sirdi
un bauslības neievērotāju dienās sekmēja dievbijību.
4 Izņemot Dāvidu, Hizkiju un Josiju,
noziedzīgi rīkojoties, visi ir noziegušies –
viņi atmeta Visuaugstākā bauslību.
Jūdas ķēniņi taču iznīka,
5 jo savu varu atdeva citiem,
savu godību – svešai tautai,
6 kas nodedzināja izredzēto svētnīcas pilsētu
un ielas pārvērta par tuksnesi,
7 kā Jeremija pravietoja,
jo tie izturējās ļauni pret viņu,
kurš par pravieti jau mātes klēpī bija svētdarīts,
lai viņš izrautu un noārdītu, un iznīdētu
un – gluži tāpat – lai uzceltu un iestādītu.
8 Ecehiēls – redzējumā viņš skatīja godību,
ko viņam parādīja Kungs ķerubu iejūgā;
9 gan naidniekus viņš pieminēja ar lietusgāzēm,
gan labu darīja tiem, kas taisnu ceļu iet.
10 Arī divpadsmit pravieši:
lai atkal saplaukst to kauli no savām atdusas vietām! –
viņi ir snieguši mierinājumu Jēkabam
un ar cerības pilnu ticību izglābuši tā tautu.
11 Kā Zerubābelu lai suminām?
Viņš bija kā zīmoggredzens labajā rokā!
12 Tāpat arī Jozua, Jehocādāka dēls:
savās dienās tie uzbūvēja namu,
Kungam uzcēla svētu templi,
kas bija sagatavots mūžīgajai godībai.
13 Arī Nehemijam piemiņa uz ilgiem laikiem:
viņš atjaunoja sagruvušos mūrus,
viņš ievietoja vārtus un bultas
un mūsu mājām lika slieties augšup no drupām.
14 Tāds kā Hanohs neviens cits nav bijis radīts virs zemes:
arī viņš no zemes uzņemts debesīs.
15 Nedz dzimis kāds ir tāds kā Jāzeps,
brāļiem vadonis un tautai balsts:
arī viņa kauli ir apraudzīti.
16 Augstā godā ļaudīs ir Šēms un Šēts,
bet radītā vidū par katru dzīvo pārāks ir Ādams.
