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Old Testament Reading - Famous Men

Hymn in Honour of Our Ancestors^a

Let us now sing the praises of famous men,
    our ancestors in their generations.
2 The Lord apportioned to themb great glory,
    his majesty from the beginning.
3 There were those who ruled in their kingdoms,
    and made a name for themselves by their valour;
those who gave counsel because they were intelligent;
    those who spoke in prophetic oracles;
4 those who led the people by their counsels
    and by their knowledge of the people’s lore;
    they were wise in their words of instruction;
5 those who composed musical tunes,
    or put verses in writing;
6 rich men endowed with resources,
    living peacefully in their homes—
7 all these were honoured in their generations,
    and were the pride of their times.
8 Some of them have left behind a name,
    so that others declare their praise.
9 But of others there is no memory;
    they have perished as though they had never existed;
they have become as though they had never been born,
    they and their children after them.
10 But these also were godly men,
    whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten;
11 their wealth will remain with their descendants,
    and their inheritance with their children’s children.c
12 Their descendants stand by the covenants;
    their children also, for their sake.
13 Their offspring will continue for ever,
    and their glory will never be blotted out.
14 Their bodies are buried in peace,
    but their name lives on generation after generation.
15 The assembly declaresd their wisdom,
    and the congregation proclaims their praise.

1. This title is included in the Gk text.
2. Heb: Gk created
3. Heb Compare Lat Syr: Meaning of Gk uncertain
4. Heb: Gk Peoples declare