Ecclesiasticus 44

How to read these pages: the text itself comes first, verse by verse, in the volume's own translation. Beneath each verse stands its Meaning — a rendering of what the passage's terms name in the inner life, drawn from the correspondences the text itself uses. The text is never altered; the meaning is offered, not imposed.

King James Version

1Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers that begat us.

Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers that begat us — the father-states that begot the order of states after them.

2The Lord hath wrought great glory by them through his great power from the beginning.

The indwelling LORD has wrought great glory — the manifested weight of the Presence — by them through his great power from the beginning.

3Such as did bear rule in their kingdoms, men renowned for their power, giving counsel by their understanding, and declaring prophecies:

Such as did bear rule in their kingdoms — the ruling states in the realms they governed — men renowned for their power, giving counsel by their understanding, and declaring prophecies, forth-telling what they heard of the Source:

4Leaders of the people by their counsels, and by their knowledge of learning meet for the people, wise and eloquent are their instructions:

Leaders of the people by their counsels, and by their knowledge of learning meet for the people, wise and eloquent are their instructions:

5Such as found out musical tunes, and recited verses in writing:

Such as found out musical tunes, and recited verses in writing:

6Rich men furnished with ability, living peaceably in their habitations:

Rich men furnished with ability, living peaceably in their habitations — their dwelling-states at rest:

7All these were honoured in their generations, and were the glory of their times.

All these were honoured in their generations, and were the glory of their times.

8There be of them, that have left a name behind them, that their praises might be reported.

There be of them, that have left a name behind them, that their praises might be reported.

9And some there be, which have no memorial; who are perished, as though they had never been; and are become as though they had never been born; and their children after them.

And some there be, which have no memorial; who are perished, as though they had never been; and are become as though they had never been born; and their children after them.

10But these were merciful men, whose righteousness hath not been forgotten.

But these were merciful men, whose righteousness — right relation to the divine order — has not been forgotten.

11With their seed shall continually remain a good inheritance, and their children are within the covenant.

With their seed — their word-idea, the pattern they folded into the states after them — shall continually remain a good inheritance, and their children are within the covenant, the law of relationship.

12Their seed standeth fast, and their children for their sakes.

Their seed stands fast, and their children for their sakes.

13Their seed shall remain for ever, and their glory shall not be blotted out.

Their seed shall remain for ever, and their glory shall not be blotted out.

14Their bodies are buried in peace; but their name liveth for evermore.

Their bodies are buried in peace; but their name lives for evermore.

15The people will tell of their wisdom, and the congregation will shew forth their praise.

The people will tell of their wisdom, and the congregation — the gathered company — will show forth their praise.

16Enoch pleased the Lord, and was translated, being an example of repentance to all generations.

Enoch — the state that walks with God until it is translated beyond the sight of death — pleased the indwelling LORD, and was translated, being an example of repentance, the turning of the mind, to all generations.

17Noah was found perfect and righteous; in the time of wrath he was taken in exchange [for the world;] therefore was he left as a remnant unto the earth, when the flood came.

Noah — Rest, the still point of consciousness that rests in God while the flood of error passes — was found perfect and righteous; in the time of wrath he was taken in exchange for the world; therefore was he left as a remnant — the faithful kernel preserved through judgment — unto the earth, when the flood came.

18An everlasting covenant was made with him, that all flesh should perish no more by the flood.

An everlasting covenant was made with him, that all flesh should perish no more by the flood — the inundation of error shall not again take every faculty at once.

19Abraham was a great father of many people: in glory was there none like unto him;

Abraham — Faith itself, the exalted father-mind that believes the promise against appearances — was a great father of many people: in glory was there none like unto him;

20Who kept the law of the most High, and was in covenant with him: he established the covenant in his flesh; and when he was proved, he was found faithful.

Who kept the law of the most High, and was in covenant with him: he established the covenant in his flesh; and when he was proved, he was found faithful.

21Therefore he assured him by an oath, that he would bless the nations in his seed, and that he would multiply him as the dust of the earth, and exalt his seed as the stars, and cause them to inherit from sea to sea, and from the river unto the utmost part of the land.

Therefore he assured him by an oath, that he would bless the nations in his seed, and that he would multiply him as the dust of the earth, and exalt his seed as the stars — the fixed knowledges of truth — and cause them to inherit from sea to sea, and from the river unto the utmost part of the land.

22With Isaac did he establish likewise [for Abraham his father’s sake] the blessing of all men, and the covenant, And made it rest upon the head of Jacob. He acknowledged him in his blessing, and gave him an heritage, and divided his portions; among the twelve tribes did he part them.

With Isaac — Laughter, the joy-child of promise — did he establish likewise, for Abraham his father's sake, the blessing of all men, and the covenant, and made it rest upon the head of Jacob — the striving intellect. He acknowledged him in his blessing, and gave him an heritage, and divided his portions; among the twelve tribes did he part them.

Companion volume to The Why Bible — the King James Apocrypha, rendered in its spiritual meanings. First final edition, October 2026.