Sirach 50

50Was Simeon, the son of Jochanan the priest.

In whose time the House was renovated,

And in whose days the Temple was fortified;

In whose days the wall was built,

⁽Having⁽ turrets for protection like a king’s palace;

In whose time a reservoir was dug,

A water-cisternlike the sea in its abundance.

He took thought for his people ^[to preserve them^[ from robbers,

And fortified his city against the enemy.

How glorious was he when he looked forth from the Tent,

And when he came out from the sanctuary!

Like a morning-star from between the clouds,

And like the full moon on the feast-days;

Like the sun shining upon the Temple of the Most High,

And like the rainbow becoming visible in the cloud;

Like a flower on the branches in the days of the first-fruits,

And as a lily by the water-brooks,

As the sprout of Lebanon on summer days,

And as the fire of incense in the censer;

Like a golden vesselbeautifully wrought,

Adorned with all manner of precious stones;

Like a luxuriant olive-tree full of berries,

And like an oleasterabounding in branches.

When he put on his glorious robes,

And clothed himself in perfect splendour,

When he went up to the altar of majesty,

And made glorious the court of the sanctuary;

When he took the portions from the hand of his brethren,

While standing by the blocks of wood,

Around him the garland of his sons,

Like young cedar-trees in Lebanon;

And like willows by the brook did they surround him,

All the sons of Aaron in their glory,

And the Lord’s fire-offering in their hands,

In the presence of the whole congregation of Israel.

Until he had finished the service of the altar

And arranging the rows of wood of the Most High,

⁽And⁽ stretched forth his hand to the cup,

And poured out of the blood of the grape;

Yea, poured ⁽it⁽ out at the foot of the altar,

A sweet-smelling savour to the Most High, the All-King.

Then the sons of Aaron sounded

With the trumpets of beaten work;

Yea, they sounded and caused a mighty blast to be heard

For a remembrance before the Most High.

⁽Then⁽ all flesh hasted together

And fell upon their faces to the earth,

To worship before the Most High,

Before the Holy One of Israel.

And the sound of the song was heard,

And over the multitudethey made sweet melody;

And all the people of the land cried

In prayer before the Merciful,

Until he had finished the service of the altar,

And His ordinances had brought him nigh unto Him.

Then he descended, and lifted up his hands

Upon the whole congregation of Israel,

And the blessing of the Lord ⁽was⁽ upon his lips,

And he glorified himself with the name of the Lord.

And again they fell down, ⁽now⁽ to receive

The pardon of God from him.

Now bless the God of all,

Who doeth wondrously on earth,

Who exalteth man from the womb,

And dealeth with him according to His will.

May He grant you wisdom of heart,

And may there be peace among you.

May His mercy be established with Simeon,

And may He raise up for him the covenant of Phinehas;

May one never be cut off from him;

And as to his seed, ⁽may it be⁽ as the days of heaven.

For two nations doth my soul feel abhorrence,

⁽Yea⁽, and ⁽for⁽ a third, which is not a people;

The inhabitants of Seir and Philistia,

And that foolish nation that dwelleth in Sichem.

Wise instruction and apt proverbs

Of Jeshua’, the son of Eleazar, the son of Sira,

Which he declared in the explanation of his heart,

And which he taught with understanding.

Blessed is the man who meditateth on these things,

And he that layeth them up in his heart shall become wise.

For if he do them, he shall be strong for all things,

For the fear of the Lord is life.