"That strain I heard was of a higher mood!"
King Hezekiah can have no finer panegyric than that of the son of Sirach: "Even the kings of Judah failed, for they forsook the law of the Most High: all except David, and Ezekias, and Josias failed."[623]
[CHAPTER XXIX]
MANASSEH
b.c. 686-641
2 Kings xxi. 1-16
"Shall the throne of wickedness have fellowship with Thee,
That frameth mischief by statute?
They gather themselves in troops against the soul of the righteous,
And condemn the innocent blood."—Psalm xciv. 20, 21.