The Book of Jesus Sirach

⭑ Catholic Public Domain :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 50 -

The praises of Simon the high priest. The conclusion.

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

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

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

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

He 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.

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

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

and 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,

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

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

like 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.(a)

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

Then, 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.

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

Then 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,

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

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

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

Then 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.

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

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

Then, 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.

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

And 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Footnotes

(a)50:11 Clothed with the perfection of power:That is, with all the vestments denoting his dignity and authority.(Challoner)

(b)50:27 Abhorres:Viz., with a holy indignation, as enemies of God and persecutors of his people. Such were then the Edomites who abode in mount Seir, the Philistines, and the Samaritans who dwelt in Sichem, and had their schismatical temple in that neighbourhood.(Challoner)

The praises of Simon the high priest. The conclusion.

It was Simon, the son of Onias, the high priest, who in his life repaired the house, and in his days strengthened the temple.

The foundation was built by him to the height of the double walls, the lofty retaining walls of the temple enclosure.

In his days, a water cistern was dug, the brazen vessel like the sea in circumference.

He planned to save his people from ruin, and fortified the city against siege.

How glorious he was when the people gathered around him as he came out of the house of the veil!

He was like the morning star among clouds, like the full moon,

like the sun shining on the temple of the Most High, like the rainbow shining in clouds of glory,

like roses in the days of first fruits, like lilies by a water spring, like the shoot of the frankincense tree in summer time,

like fire and incense in the censer, like a vessel of beaten gold adorned with all kinds of precious stones,

like an olive tree loaded with fruit, and like a cypress growing high among the clouds.

When he put on his glorious robe, and clothed himself in perfect splendor, ascending to the holy altar, he made the court of the sanctuary glorious.

When he received the portions out of the priests’ hands, as he stood by the hearth of the altar, with his kindred like a garland around him, he was like a young cedar in Lebanon surrounded by the trunks of palm trees.

All the sons of Aaron in their glory, held the Lord’s offering in their hands before all the congregation of Israel.

Finishing the service at the altars, that he might arrange the offering of the Most High, the Almighty,

he stretched out his hand to the cup of libation, and poured out the cup of the grape. He poured it out at the foot of the altar, a sweet smelling fragrance to the Most High, the King of all.

Then the sons of Aaron shouted. They sounded the trumpets of beaten work. They made a great fanfare to be heard, for a reminder before the Most High.

Then all the people together hurried, and fell down to the ground on their faces to worship their Lord, the Almighty, God Most High.

The singers also praised him with their voices. There was a sweet melody in the whole house.

And the people implored the Lord Most High, in prayer before him who is merciful, until the worship of the Lord was finished, and so they accomplished his service.

Then he went down, and lifted up his hands over the whole congregation of the children of Israel, to give blessing to the Lord with his lips, and to glory in his name.

He bowed himself down in worship the second time, to declare the blessing from the Most High.

Now bless the God of all, who everywhere does great things, who exalts our days from the womb, and deals with us according to his mercy.

May he grant us joyfulness of heart, and that peace may be in our days in Israel for the days of eternity,

to entrust his mercy with us, and let him deliver us in his time!

With two nations my soul is vexed, and the third is no nation:

Those who sit on the mountain of(a) Samaria, the Philistines, and the foolish people who live in Shechem.

I have written in this book the instruction of understanding and knowledge, I Jesus, the son of Sirach Eleazar, of Jerusalem, who out of his heart poured forth wisdom.

Blessed is he who will exercise these things. He who lays them up in his heart will become wise.

For if he does them, he will be strong in all things, for the light of the Lord is his guide.(b)

Footnotes

(a)50:26 According to some ancient versions, Seir.

(b)50:29 The remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.