1Let us now sing the praises of famous men,

our ancestors in their generations.

2The Lord apportioned to themt great glory,

his majesty from the beginning.

3There were those who ruled in their kingdoms

and made a name for themselves by their strength;

those who gave counsel because they were intelligent;

those who spoke in prophetic oracles;*

4those who led the people by their counsels

and by their knowledge of the people’s lore;

they were wise in their words of instruction;

5those who composed musical tunes

or put verses in writing;*

6rich men endowed with resources,

living peacefully in their homes—

7all these were honored in their generations

and were the pride of their times.

8Some of them have left behind a name,

so that others declare their praise.

9But 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.*

10But these also were men of compassion

whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten;

11their wealth will remain with their descendants

and their inheritance with their children’s children.u^,*

12Their descendants stand by the covenants;

their children also, for their sake.

13Their offspring will continue forever,

and their glory will never be blotted out.*

14Their bodies are buried in peace,

but their name lives on generation after generation.*

15The assembly declaresv their wisdom,

and the congregation proclaims their praise.*

16Enoch pleased the Lord and was taken up,

an example of repentance to all generations.*

17Noah was found perfect and righteous;

in the time of wrath he kept humanity alive;w

because of himx a remnant was left on the earth

when the flood came.*

18Everlasting covenants were made with him

that all flesh should never again be blotted out by a flood.*

19Abraham was the great father of a multitude of nations,

and no one has been found like him in glory.*

20He kept the law of the Most High

and entered into a covenant with him;

he certified the covenant in his flesh,

and when he was tested he proved faithful.*

21Therefore the Lordy assured him with an oath

that the nations would be blessed through his offspring,

that he would make him as numerous as the dust of the earth

and exalt his offspring like the stars

and give them an inheritance from sea to sea

and from the Euphratesz to the ends of the earth.*

22To Isaac also he gave the same assurance

for the sake of his father Abraham.

The blessing of all people and a covenant*

23he made to rest on the head of Jacob;

he acknowledged him with his blessings

and gave him his inheritance;

he divided his portions

and distributed them among twelve tribes.

From his descendants the Lorda brought forth a man of compassion

who found favor in the sight of all*