Geneva(i)
1 Let vs now commend the famous men, and our fathers of whome we are begotten.
2 The Lord hath gotten great glory by them, and that through his great power from the beginning.
3 They haue borne rule in their kingdomes, and were renoumed for their power, and were wise in counsell, and declared prophecies.
4 They gouerned the people by counsell and by the knowledge of learning meete for the people, in whose doctrine were wise sentences.
5 They inuented the melodie of musike, and expounded the verses that were written.
6 They were rich and mightie in power, and liued quietly at home.
7 All these were honourable men in their generations, and were well reported of in their times.
8 There are of them that haue left a name behinde them, so that their prayse shalbe spoken of.
9 There are some also which haue no memoriall, and are perished, as though they had neuer bene, and are become as though they had neuer bene borne, and their children after them.
10 But the former were mercifull men, whose righteousnes hath not bene forgotten.
11 For whose posteritie a good inheritance is reserued, & their seede is conteined in the couenant.
12 Their stocke is conteined in the couenant, and their posteritie after them.
13 Their seede shall remaine for euer, and their prayse shall neuer be taken away.
14 Their bodies are buried in peace, but their name liueth for euermore.
15 The people speake of their wisdome, and the congregation talke of their prayse.
16 Enoch pleased the Lorde God: therefore was he translated for an example of repentance to the generations.
17 Noe was found perfite, and in the time of wrath he had a rewarde: therefore was he left as a remnant vnto the earth, when the flood came.
18 An euerlasting couenant was made with him, that all flesh should perish no more by the flood.
19 Abraham was a great father of many people: in glory was there none like vnto him.
20 He kept the Law of the most High, and was in couenant with him, & he set the couenant in his flesh, and in tentation he was found faithfull.
21 Therefore he assured him by an othe, that he would blesse the nations in his seede, and that he would multiplie him as the dust of the earth, and exalt his seede as the starres, and cause them to inherite from sea to sea, and from the Riuer vnto the end of the world.
22 With Isaac did hee confirme likewise for Abraham his fathers sake, the blessing of all men, and the couenant,
23 And caused it to rest vpon the head of Iacob, and made himselfe knowen by his blessings, and gaue him an heritage and deuided his portions, and parted them among the twelue tribes.
24 And hee brought out of him a mercifull man, which found fauour in the sight of all flesh.