Sirach
Sirach 50
Simon the Great Priest
1 Simon son of Onias, the great priest, repaired the house during his lifetime and strengthened the temple in his days.
2 He laid the foundation for the double height, the high retaining wall around the temple precinct.
3 In his days a reservoir for water was carved out, a basin with a circumference like the sea.
4 He took care of his people to prevent their fall and strengthened the city against siege.
5 How glorious he was among the gathered people when he came out from behind the veil of the house!
6 He was like the morning star among clouds and like the full moon,
7 like the sun shining on the temple of the Most High and like a rainbow shining in glorious clouds,
8 like a rose blossom in springtime, like lilies beside flowing water, and like a shoot of Lebanon in summer,
9 like fire and frankincense in a censer and like a vessel of hammered gold adorned with every precious stone,
10 like an olive tree putting out fruit and like a cypress rising into the clouds.
11 When he took up his glorious robe and clothed himself in perfect splendor, and when he went up to the holy altar, he glorified the clothing of the holy place.
12 When he received the portions from the priests’ hands, he stood beside the altar hearth, surrounded by a crown of brothers like young cedars in Lebanon; they circled him like palm trunks.
13 All Aaron’s sons stood in their glory with the Lord’s offering in their hands before the entire assembly of Israel.
14 As he completed his service at the altars to adorn the offering of the Most High Almighty,
15 he stretched his hand toward the cup and poured out the blood of the grape. At the base of the altar he poured out a sweet fragrance to the Most High, the King of all.
16 Then Aaron’s sons shouted and sounded hammered silver trumpets, making a mighty sound as a memorial before the Most High.
17 Then all the people hurried together and fell facedown on the ground to bow down to their Lord, God Almighty, the Most High.
18 The singers praised him with their voices, and the melody was sweetened by the rich sound.
19 The people pleaded with the Lord Most High in prayer before the Merciful One until the Lord’s ceremony ended and they completed his service.
20 Then Simon came down and raised his hands over the entire assembly of Israel’s children to give the Lord’s blessing with his lips and to boast in his name.
21 They bowed down a second time to receive the blessing from the Most High.
22 Now bless the God of all, who alone does great things everywhere, who exalts our days from the womb and deals with us according to his mercy.
23 May he give us gladness of heart, and may there be peace in Israel in our days and forever.
24 May he entrust his mercy to us and ransom us in our days.
25 My soul detests two nations, and the third is not even a nation:
26 those living on Mount Samaria, the Philistines, and the foolish people living at Shechem.
27 Jesus son of Sirach Eleazar, the Jerusalemite, wrote instruction in understanding and knowledge in this book, pouring out wisdom from his heart. 28 Blessed is the one who occupies himself with these things. Whoever places them in his heart will become wise. 29 If he practices them, he will be strong in everything, for the light of the Lord is his path.