1Let me now praise men of piety, our fathers in their generations.
2Great glory the Most High allotted to them, and their greatness is from the days of old.
3Rulers of the land in their kingdoms, and men of renown in their might; counselors in their understanding, and seers of all in their prophecy.
4Princes of peoples in their plans, and rulers in their insights; sages of discourse in their writing, and governors in their commands.
5Investigators of psalms according to rule, and authors of proverbs in writing.
6Men of wealth, endowed with strength, living peacefully in their homes.
7All these were honored in their generation, and in their days they were a glory.
8There are some of them who left a name, that their story might be told by their inheritance.
9And there are some of them who have no memorial; they ceased to be, just as they had been.
10They are as if they had never been, they and their children after them.
11But these were men of piety, and their hope will not cease.
12Their goodness is steadfast with their seed, and their inheritance is for their children’s children.
13Their memory will stand forever, and their righteousness will not be forgotten.
14Their bodies were gathered in peace, and their name lives for generation after generation.
15The congregation will recount their wisdom, and the assembly will declare their praise.
16Enoch was found blameless; he walked with Yahweh and was taken—a sign of knowledge for all generations.
17Noah was found righteous and blameless; at the time of destruction, he became the continuation. Because of him a remnant was left, and by his covenant the flood ceased.
18An everlasting sign was established with him, that all flesh would never again be destroyed.
19Abraham was the father of a multitude of nations; no blemish was found in his glory.
20He kept the commandment of the Most High and entered into a covenant with him. In his flesh He established a statute, and in testing he was found faithful.
21Therefore He established for him by an oath to bless nations through his seed, and to give them inheritance from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.
22So also for Isaac He established it, for the sake of Abraham his father. He gave him the covenant of every first man, and a blessing rested on the head of Israel.
23He confirmed him in his blessing and gave him his inheritance; He established it for the tribes, as a division of twelve.
24And He brought forth from him a man who found favor in the eyes of all living.
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