1 Simon Onii filius sacerdos magnus
qui in vita sua suffulsit domum
et in diebus suis corroboravit
2 templi etiam altitudo ab ipso fundata est
duplex aedificatio excelsa parietis
templi
3 in diebus ipsius remanaverunt
putei aquarum
et quasi mare adimpleti sunt supra modum
4 qui curavit gentem suam
et liberavit illam a pernicie
5 qui praevaluit amplificare civitatem
qui adeptus est gloriam in conversatione gentis
et ingressum domus et atrii amplificatus est
6 quasi stella matutina in medio nebulae
et quasi luna plena in diebus suis lucet
7 et quasi sol refulgens sic ille effulsit in templo Dei
8 quasi arcus effulgens in
nebulam gloriae
et quasi flos rosarum in diebus veris
quasi lilia quae sunt in transitu aquae
et quasi tus redolens in diebus aestatis
9 quasi ignis effulgens et tus ardens in igni
10 quasi vas auri solidum ornatum omni lapide pretioso
11 quasi oliva pullulans
et gyrus in altitudinem se
tollens
in accipiendo ipsum stolam gloriae
et vestiri eum consummatione virtutis
12 in ascensu altarii sancti gloriam dedit
sanctitatis amictum
13 in accipiendo autem partes de manu sacerdotum
et ipse stans iuxta aram circa illum corona fratrum
quasi plantatio cedri in monte Libano
14 sic circa illum steterunt quasi rami in palma
et omnes filii Aaron in gloria sua
15 oblatio autem Domini in manibus ipsorum
coram omni synagoga Israhel
et consummationem fungens in ara
amplificare oblationem excelsi Regis
16 porrexit manum suam in libatione
et libavit de sanguine uvae
17 et fudit in fundamenta altarii odorem divinum
excelso Principi
18 tunc exclamaverunt filii Aaron
in tubis productilibus sonaverunt
et auditam fecerunt magnam vocem
in memoriam coram Deo
19 tunc omnis populus simul properaverunt
et ceciderunt in faciem super terram
adorare Dominum suum
et dare preces Deo omnipotenti excelso
20 et amplificaverunt psallentes in vocibus suis
et in magna domo auctus est sonus suavitate plenus
21 et rogavit populus Dominum excelsum in prece
usque dum perfectus est honor Domini
et munus suum perfecerunt
22 tunc descendens extulit manus suas
in omnem congregationem filiorum Israhel
dare gloriam Deo a labiis suis et in nomine ipsius gloriari
23 et iteravit orationem suam volens ostendere virtutem Dei
24 et nunc orate Dominum
omnium
qui magna fecit in omni terra
qui auxit dies nostros a ventre matris nostrae
et fecit nobiscum secundum suam misericordiam
25 det nobis iucunditatem cordis
et fieri pacem in diebus nostris in Israhel per dies sempiternos
26 credere Israhel nobiscum esse misericordiam Dei
ut sanet vos in
diebus suis
27 duas gentes odit anima mea
tertia autem non est gens quam oderim
28 qui sedent in monte Seir et Philisthim
et stultus populus qui habitat in Sicimis
29 doctrinam sapientiae et disciplinae scripsi
in codice isto
Iesus filius Sirach Hierosolymita
qui renovavit sapientiam de corde suo
30 beatus qui in istis versatur bonis
qui ponit illa in corde suo sapiens erit semper
31 si enim haec fecerit ad omnia valebit
quia lux Dei vestigium eius est
1 Simon the high priest, the son of Onias, who in his life repaired the house again, and in his days fortified the temple:
2 And by him was built from the foundation the double height, the high fortress of the wall about the temple:
3 In his days the cistern to receive water, being in compass as the sea, was covered with plates of brass:
4 He took care of the temple that it should not fall, and fortified the city against besieging:
5 How was he honoured in the midst of the people in his coming out of the sanctuary!
6 He was as the morning star in the midst of a cloud, and as the moon at the full:
7 As the sun shining upon the temple of the most High, and as the rainbow giving light in the bright clouds:
8 And as the flower of roses in the spring of the year, as lilies by the rivers of waters, and as the branches of the frankincense tree in the time of summer:
9 As fire and incense in the censer, and as a vessel of beaten gold set with all manner of precious stones:
10 And as a fair olive tree budding forth fruit, and as a cypress tree which groweth up to the clouds.
11 When he put on the robe of honour, and was clothed with the perfection of glory, when he went up to the holy altar, he made the garment of holiness honourable.
12 When he took the portions out of the priests’ hands, he himself stood by the hearth of the altar, compassed about, as a young cedar in Libanus; and as palm trees compassed they him round about.
13 So were all the sons of Aaron in their glory, and the oblations of the Lord in their hands, before all the congregation of Israel.
14 And finishing the service at the altar, that he might adorn the offering of the most high Almighty,
15 He stretched out his hand to the cup, and poured of the blood of the grape, he poured out at the foot of the altar a sweetsmelling savour unto the most high King of all.
16 Then shouted the sons of Aaron, and sounded the silver trumpets, and made a great noise to be heard, for a remembrance before the most High.
17 Then all the people together hasted, and fell down to the earth upon their faces to worship their Lord God Almighty, the most High.
18 The singers also sang praises with their voices, with great variety of sounds was there made sweet melody.
19 And the people besought the Lord, the most High, by prayer before him that is merciful, till the solemnity of the Lord was ended, and they had finished his service.
20 Then he went down, and lifted up his hands over the whole congregation of the children of Israel, to give the blessing of the Lord with his lips, and to rejoice in his name.
21 And they bowed themselves down to worship the second time, that they might receive a blessing from the most High.
22 Now therefore bless ye the God of all, which only doeth wondrous things every where, which exalteth our days from the womb, and dealeth with us according to his mercy.
23 He grant us joyfulness of heart, and that peace may be in our days in Israel for ever:
24 That he would confirm his mercy with us, and deliver us at his time!
25 There be two manner of nations which my heart abhorreth, and the third is no nation:
26 They that sit upon the mountain of Samaria, and they that dwell among the Philistines, and that foolish people that dwell in Sichem.
27 Jesus the son of Sirach of Jerusalem hath written in this book the instruction of understanding and knowledge, who out of his heart poured forth wisdom.
28 Blessed is he that shall be exercised in these things; and he that layeth them up in his heart shall become wise.
29 For if he do them, he shall be strong to all things: for the light of the Lord leadeth him, who giveth wisdom to the godly. Blessed be the name of the Lord for ever. Amen, Amen.