Sirach 44–45

Chapter 44

Let us now praise men of renown and our fathers in their generation.

²The Lord hath wrought great glory through his magnificence from the beginning.

³Such as have borne rule in their dominions, men of great power, and endued with their wisdom, shewing forth in the prophets the dignity of prophets,

⁴And ruling over the present people, and by the strength of wisdom instructing the people in most holy words.

⁵Such as by their skill sought out musical tunes, and published canticles of the scriptures.

⁶Rich men in virtue, studying beautifulness: living at peace in their houses.

⁷All these have gained glory in their generations, and were praised in their days.

⁸They that were born of them have left a name behind them, that their praises might be related:

⁹And there are some, of whom there is no memorial: who are perished, as if they had never been: and are become as if they had never been born, and their children with them.

¹⁰But these were men of mercy, whose godly deeds have not failed:

¹¹Good things continue with their seed,

¹²Their posterity are a holy inheritance, and their seed hath stood in the covenants.

¹³And their children for their sakes remain for ever: their seed and their glory shall not be forsaken.

¹⁴Their bodies are buried in peace, and their name liveth unto generation and generation.

¹⁵Let the people shew forth their wisdom, and the church declare their praise.

¹⁶Henoch pleased God, and was translated into paradise, that he may give repentance to the nations.

¹⁷Noe was found perfect, just, and in the time of wrath he was made a reconciliation.

¹⁸Therefore was there a remnant left to the earth, when the flood came.

¹⁹The covenants of the world were made with him, that all flesh should no more be destroyed with the flood.

²⁰Abraham was the great father of a multitude of nations, and there was not found the like to him in glory, who kept the law of the most High, and was in covenant with him.

²¹In his flesh he established the covenant, and in temptation he was found faithful.

²²Therefore by an oath he gave him glory in his posterity, that he should increase as the dust of the earth,

²³And that he would exalt his seed as the stars, and they should inherit from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth.

²⁴And he did in like manner with Isaac for the sake of Abraham his father.

²⁵The Lord gave him the blessing of all nations, and confirmed his covenant upon the head of Jacob.

²⁶He acknowledged him in his blessings, and gave him an inheritance, and divided him his portion in twelve tribes.

²⁷And he preserved for him men of mercy, that found grace in the eyes of all flesh.

Chapter 45

Moses was beloved of God, and men: whose memory is in benediction.

²He made him like the saints in glory, and magnified him in the fear of his enemies, and with his words he made prodigies to cease.

³He glorified him in the sight of kings, and gave him commandments in the sight of his people, and shewed him his glory.

⁴He sanctified him in his faith, and meekness, and chose him out of all flesh.

⁵For he heard him, and his voice, and brought him into a cloud.

⁶And he gave him commandments before his face, and a law of life and instruction, that he might teach Jacob his covenant, and Israel his judgments.

⁷He exalted Aaron his brother, and like to himself of the tribe of Levi:

⁸He made an everlasting covenant with him, and gave him the priesthood of the nation, and made him blessed in glory,

⁹And he girded him about with a glorious girdle, and clothed him with a robe of glory, and crowned him with majestic attire.

¹⁰He put upon him a garment to the feet, and breeches, and an ephod, and he compassed him with many little bells of gold all round about,

¹¹That as he went there might be a sound, and a noise made that might be heard in the temple, for a memorial to the children of his people.

¹²He gave him a holy robe of gold, and blue, and purple, a woven work of a wise man, endued with judgment and truth:

¹³Of twisted scarlet the work of an artist, with precious stones cut and set in gold, and graven by the work of a lapidary for a memorial, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.

¹⁴And a crown of gold upon his mitre wherein was engraved Holiness, an ornament of honour: a work of power, and delightful to the eyes for its beauty.

¹⁵Before him there were none so beautiful, even from the beginning.

¹⁶No stranger was ever clothed with them, but only his children alone, and his grandchildren for ever.

¹⁷His sacrifices were consumed with fire every day.

¹⁸Moses filled his hands and anointed him with holy oil.

¹⁹This was made to him for an everlasting testament, and to his seed as the days of heaven, to execute the office of the priesthood, and to have praise, and to glorify his people in his name.

²⁰He chose him out of all men living, to offer sacrifice to God, incense, and a good savour, for a memorial to make reconciliation for his people:

²¹And he gave him power in his commandments, in the covenants of his judgments, that he should teach Jacob his testimonies, and give light to Israel in his law.

²²And strangers stood up against him, and through envy the men that were with Dathan and Abiron, compassed him about in the wilderness, and the congregation of Core in their wrath.

²³The Lord God saw and it pleased him not, and they were consumed in his wrathful indignation.

²⁴He wrought wonders upon them, and consumed them with a flame of fire.

²⁵And he added glory to Aaron, and gave him an inheritance, and divided unto him the firstfruits of the increase of the earth.

²⁶He prepared them bread in the first place unto fulness: for the sacrifices also of the Lord they shall eat, which he gave to him, and to his seed.

²⁷But he shall not inherit among the people in the land, and he hath no portion among the people: for he himself is his portion and inheritance.

²⁸Phinees the son of Eleazar is the third in glory, by imitating him in the fear of the Lord:

²⁹And he stood up in the shameful fall of the people: in the goodness and readiness of his soul he appeased God for Israel.

³⁰Therefore he made to him a covenant of peace, to be the prince of the sanctuary, and of his people, that the dignity of priesthood should be to him and to his seed for ever.

³¹And a covenant to David the king, the son of Jesse of the tribe of Juda, an inheritance to him and to his seed, that he might give wisdom into our heart to judge his people in justice, that their good things might not be abolished, and he made their glory in their nation everlasting.