Open English Translation SIR Chapter 48

48 Then Eliyah (Elijah) arose, the prophet like fire.

His word burnt like a torch.

2 He brought a famine on them,

and by his zeal made them few in number.

3 By the master’s word he shut up the heavens.

He brought down fire three times.

4 How you were glorified, Oh Eliyah, in your wondrous actions!

Whose glory is like yours?

5 You raised up a dead man from death,

from Haidais, by the Most High’s word.

6 You brought down kings to destruction,

and honourable men from their sickbeds.

7 You heard rebuke in Sinay,

and judgements of vengeance in Horev.

8 You anointed kings for retribution,

and prophets to succeed after you.

9 You were taken up in a tempest of fire,

in a chariot of fiery horses.

10 You were recorded for reproofs in their seasons,

to pacify anger, before it broke out into anger,

to turn the father’s heart to the son,

and to restore the tribes of Ya’akov (Jacob).

11 Blessed are those who saw you,

and those who’ve been beautified with love;

for we also will surely live.

12 Eliyah (Elijah) was wrapped in a whirlwind.

Elisha was filled with his spirit.

In his days he wasn’t moved by the fear of any ruler,

and no one brought him into subjection.

13 Nothing was too hard for him.

When he was buried, his body prophesied.

14 As in his life he did wonders,

so his works were also marvellous in death.

15 Because all this the people didn’t repent.

They didn’t depart from their sins,

until they were carried away as a plunder from their land,

and were scattered through all the earth.

The people were left very few in number,

but with a ruler from the house of David.

16 Some of them did that which was right,

but some multiplied sins.

17 Hizkiyah (Hezekiah) fortified his city,

and brought water into its midst.

He tunnelled through rock with iron,

and built cisterns for water.

18 In his days Sanheriv (Sennacherib) invaded,

and sent Rabshakeh, and departed.

He lifted up his hand against Tsiyon (Zion),

and boasted great things in his arrogance.

19 Then their hearts and their hands were shaken,

and they were in pain, as women in labour.

20 But they called on the master who’s merciful,

spreading out their hands to him.

The Holy One quickly heard them out of Heaven,

and delivered them by Yeshayah’s (Isaiah’s) hand.

21 He struck the camp of the Assyrians,

and his angel utterly destroyed them.

22 Because Hizkiyah (Hezekiah) did that which was pleasing to the master,

and was strong in the ways of his ancestor David,

which Yeshayah the prophet commanded,

who was great and faithful in his vision.

23 In his days the sun went backward.

He prolonged the king’s life.

24 He saw by an excellent spirit what’d happen in the future;

and he comforted those who mourned in Tsiyon (Zion).

25 He showed the things that’d happen through the end of time,

and the hidden things before they came.