49:1 The name of Josiah is like blended incense prepared by the skill of the perfumer; his memory is as sweet as honey to every mouth, and like music at a banquet of wine.
49:2 He did what was right by reforming the people, and removing the wicked abominations.
49:3 He kept his heart fixed on the Lord; in lawless times he made godliness prevail.
49:4 Except for David and Hezekiah and Josiah, all of them were great sinners, for they abandoned the law of the Most High; the kings of Judah came to an end.
49:5 They gave their power to others, and their glory to a foreign nation,
49:6 who set fire to the chosen city of the sanctuary, and made its streets desolate, as Jeremiah had foretold.
49:7 For they had maltreated him, who even in the womb had been consecrated a prophet, to pluck up and ruin and destroy, and likewise to build and to plant.
49:8 It was Ezekiel who saw the vision of glory, which God showed him above the chariot of the cherubim.
49:9 For God also mentioned Job who held fast to all the ways of justice.
49:10 May the bones of the Twelve Prophets send forth new life from where they lie, for they comforted the people of Jacob and delivered them with confident hope.
49:11 How shall we magnify Zerubbabel? He was like a signet ring on the right hand,
49:12 and so was Jeshua son of Jozadak; in their days they built the house and raised a temple holy to the Lord, destined for everlasting glory.
49:13 The memory of Nehemiah also is lasting; he raised our fallen walls, and set up gates and bars, and rebuilt our ruined houses.
49:14 Few have ever been created on earth like Enoch, for he was taken up from the earth.
49:15 Nor was anyone ever born like Joseph; even his bones were cared for.
49:16 Shem and Seth and Enosh were honoured, but above every other created living being was Adam.
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