Jesus Sirach 50

1Simon the high priest, the son of Onias, who in his life propped up the house, and in his days fortified the temple.

2By him also the height of the temple was founded, the double building and the high walls of the temple.

3In his days the wells of water flowed out, and they were filled as the sea above measure.

4He took care of his nation, and delivered it from destruction.

5He prevailed to enlarge the city, and obtained glory in his conversation with the people: and enlarged the entrance of the house and the court.

6He shone in his days as the morning star in the midst of a cloud, and as the moon at the full.

7And as the sun when it shineth, so did he shine in the temple of God.

8And as the rainbow giving light in the bright clouds, and as the flower of roses in the days of the spring, and as the lilies that are on the brink of the water, and as the sweet smelling frankincense in the time of summer.

9As a bright Are, and frankincense burning in the fire.

10As a massy vessel of gold, adorned with every precious stone.

11As an olive tree budding forth, and a cypress tree rearing itself on high, when he put on the robe of glory, and was clothed with the perfection of power.

12When he went up to the holy altar, he honoured the vesture of holiness.

13And when he took the portions out of the hands of the priests, he himself stood by the altar. And about him was the ring of his brethren: and as the cedar planted in mount Libanus,

14And as branches of palm trees, they stood round about him, and all the sons of Aaron in their glory.

15And the oblation of the Lord was in their hands, before all the congregation of Israel: and finishing his service, on the altar, to honour the offering of the most high Ring,

16He stretched forth his hand to make a libation, and offered of the blood of the grape.

17He poured out at the foot of the altar a divine odour to the most high Prince.

18Then the sons of Aaron shouted, they sounded with beaten trumpets, and made a great noise to be heard for a remembrance before God.

19Then all the people together made haste, and fell down to the earth upon their faces, to adore the Lord their God, and to pray to the Almighty God the most High.

20And the singers lifted up their voices. and in the great house the sound of sweet melody was increased.

21And the people in prayer besought the Lord the most High, until the worship of the Lord was perfected, and they had finished their office.

22Then coming down, he lifted up his hands over all the congregation of the children of Israel, to give glory to God with his lips, and to glory in his name:

23And he repeated his prayer, willing to shew the power of God.

24And now pray ye to the God of all, who hath done great things in all the earth, who hath increased our days from our mother’s womb, and hath done with us according to his mercy.

25May he grant us joyfulness of heart, and that there be peace in our days in Israel for ever:

26That Israel may believe that the mercy of God is with us, to deliver us in his days.

27There are two nations which my soul abhorreth: and the third is no nation, which I hate:

28They that sit on mount Seir, and the Philistines, and the foolish people that dwell in Sichem.

29Jesus the son of Sirach, of Jerusalem, hath written in this book the doctrine of wisdom and instruction, who renewed wisdom from his heart.

30Blessed is he that is conversant in these good things: and he that layeth them up in his heart, shall be wise always.

31For if he do them, he shall be strong to do all things: because the light of God guideth his steps.

1[Simon, Oniæ filius, sacerdos magnus, qui in vita sua suffulsit domum, et in diebus suis corroboravit templum.

2Templi etiam altitudo ab ipso fundata est, duplex ædificatio, et excelsi parietes templi.

3In diebus ipsius emanaverunt putei aquarum, et quasi mare adimpleti sunt supra modum.

4Qui curavit gentem suam, et liberavit eam a perditione:

5qui prævaluit amplificare civitatem, qui adeptus est gloriam in conversatione gentis, et ingressum domus et atrii amplificavit.

6Quasi stella matutina in medio nebulæ, et quasi luna plena, in diebus suis lucet:

7et quasi sol refulgens, sic ille effulsit in templo Dei.

8Quasi arcus refulgens inter nebulas gloriæ, et quasi flos rosarum in diebus vernis, et quasi lilia quæ sunt in transitu aquæ, et quasi thus redolens in diebus æstatis:

9quasi ignis effulgens, et thus ardens in igne:

10quasi vas auri solidum, ornatum omni lapide pretioso:

11quasi oliva pullulans, et cypressus in altitudinem se extollens, in accipiendo ipsum stolam gloriæ, et vestiri eum in consummationem virtutis.

12In ascensu altaris sancti gloriam dedit sanctitatis amictum.

13In accipiendo autem partes de manu sacerdotum, et ipse stans juxta aram: et circa illum corona fratrum: quasi plantatio cedri in monte Libano,

14sic circa illum steterunt quasi rami palmæ: et omnes filii Aaron in gloria sua.

15Oblatio autem Domini in manibus ipsorum coram omni synagoga Israël: et consummatione fungens in ara, amplificare oblationem excelsi Regis,

16porrexit manum suam in libatione, et libavit de sanguine uvæ.

17Effudit in fundamento altaris odorem divinum excelso Principi.

18Tunc exclamaverunt filii Aaron, in tubis productilibus sonuerunt: et auditam fecerunt vocem magnam in memoriam coram Deo.

19Tunc omnis populus simul properaverunt, et ceciderunt in faciem super terram, adorare Dominum Deum suum, et dare preces omnipotenti Deo excelso.

20Et amplificaverunt psallentes in vocibus suis, et in magna domo auctus est sonus suavitatis plenus.

21Et rogavit populus Dominum excelsum in prece, usque dum perfectus est honor Domini, et munus suum perfecerunt.

22Tunc descendens, manus suas extulit in omne congregationem filiorum Israël, dare gloriam Deo a labiis suis, et in nomine ipsius gloriari:

23et iteravit orationem suam, volens ostendere virtutem Dei.

24Et nunc orate Deum omnium, qui magna fecit in omni terra, qui auxit dies nostros a ventre matris nostræ, et fecit nobiscum secundum suam misericordiam:

25det nobis jucunditatem cordis, et fieri pacem in diebus nostris in Israël per dies sempiternos:

26credere Israël nobiscum esse Dei misericordiam, ut liberet nos in diebus suis.]

27[Duas gentes odit anima mea: tertia autem non est gens quam oderim:

28qui sedent in monte Seir, et Philisthiim, et stultus populus qui habitat in Sichimis.]

29[Doctrinam sapientiæ et disciplinæ scripsit in codice isto Jesus, filius Sirach, Jerosolymita, qui renovavit sapientiam de corde suo.

30Beatus qui in istis versatur bonis: qui ponit illa in corde suo, sapiens erit semper.

31Si enim hæc fecerit, ad omnia valebit, quia lux Dei vestigium ejus est.]

1Simon, the high priest, son of Onias: in his life, he propped up the house, and in his days, he strengthened the temple.

2Even the height of the temple was established by him: the double building and the high walls of the temple.

3In his days, waters flowed out from the wells, and these were full beyond measure, like the sea.

4He cared for his nation, and he freed it from perdition.

5He prevailed, so as to enlarge the city. And he obtained glory by his behavior among the people. And he enlarged the entrance of the house and of the atrium.

6He shined in his days like the morning star through the midst of a cloud, and like the full moon.

7And he shined forth in the temple of God in this manner: like the sun when it shines brightly,

8and like a rainbow shining amid clouds of glory, and like flowering roses in the days of spring, and like lilies along the water’s edge, and like sweet smelling frankincense in the days of summer,

9like a fire shining brightly, and like frankincense burning within a fire,

10like a vessel of solid gold, adorned with every precious stone,

11like an olive tree producing buds, and like a cypress tree lifting itself on high, when he received the robe of glory and was vested with the consummation of virtue.

12He gave glory to the vestment of sanctity, when he ascended to the holy altar.

13Then, when he received the portions from the hands of the priests, he himself stood next to the altar. And around him was the crown of his brethren, like a cedar planted on a mountain of Lebanon.

14And they stood around him like palm branches, and all were sons of Aaron in their glory.

15Then the oblation of the Lord was in their hands, in the sight of the entire synagogue of Israel. And completing his service at the altar, so as to magnify the offering to the Most High King,

16he extended his hand to make a libation, and he offered from the blood of the grape.

17At the base of the altar, he poured out a divine fragrance to the Most High Prince.

18Then the sons of Aaron shouted; they sounded finely-made trumpets, and they made a great noise, as a memorial in the sight of God.

19Then all the people at once hurried forward, and they fell to the ground on their faces, to adore the Lord their God, and to offer prayers to Almighty God Most High.

20And the singers of Psalms raised their voices, and a full sweet sound increased in the great house.

21And the people petitioned the Most High Lord in prayer, even until the honor of the Lord was completed, and they finished offering their gifts.

22Then, descending, he extended his hands over the entire congregation of the sons of Israel, to give glory to God from his lips, and to glory in his name.

23And he repeated his prayer, wanting to reveal the virtue of God.

24And now, pray to the God of all, who has accomplished great things over all the earth, who has increased our days from our mother’s womb, and who has acted toward us in accord with his mercy.

25May he give us joyfulness in heart, and may there be peace in our days, in Israel for unending days,

26so that Israel may trust the mercy of God to be with us, in order to free us in his days.

27Two nations my soul hates, and a third, which I hate, is not a nation:

28those who sit upon mount Seir, and the Philistines, and the foolish people who live at Shechem.

29Jesus, the son of Sirach, of Jerusalem, who renewed wisdom from his heart, wrote the doctrine of wisdom and discipline in this book.

30Blessed is he who lives by these good things. Whoever places these things in his heart will be ever wise.

31For if he does these things, he will prevail in all things. For the light of God is upon his footsteps.