Ecclesiasticus, 50

1. Simon the high priest, the son of Onias, who in his life repaired the house again, and in his days fortified the temple:

1. The High Priest Simon, son of Onias, repaired the sanctuary and fortified the Temple during his lifetime.

2. And by him was built from the foundation the double height, the high fortress of the wall about the temple:

2. He laid the foundations for the high double wall and for the fortifications surrounding the Temple.

3. In his days the cistern to receive water, being in compass as the sea, was covered with plates of brass:

3. In his days a reservoir for water, a cistern as great as a sea, was excavated.

4. He took care of the temple that it should not fall, and fortified the city against besieging:

4. Anxious lest his people might perish, he fortified the city against a siege.

5. How was he honoured in the midst of the people in his coming out of the sanctuary!

5. How magnificent he was when, surrounded by his people, he emerged from the inner sanctuary

6. He was as the morning star in the midst of a cloud, and as the moon at the full:

6. like the morning star amidst the clouds, like the full moon,

7. As the sun shining upon the temple of the most High, and as the rainbow giving light in the bright clouds:

7. like the sun shining on the Temple of the Most High or a rainbow in a glory of 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:

8. He was like a rose in spring, a lily beside a stream, a green shoot on a summer day,

9. As fire and incense in the censer, and as a vessel of beaten gold set with all manner of precious stones:

9. or incense burning in the censer. He could be likened to a massive, golden vase adorned with every kind of precious stone,

10. And as a fair olive tree budding forth fruit, and as a cypress tree which groweth up to the clouds.

10. to an olive tree heavy with fruit, or to a cypress rising 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.

11. when, robed in ceremonial garb and in perfect splendor, he went to the sacred altar filling the court of the sanctuary with glory.

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.

12. There he would receive from the hand of the priests the portions of the sacrifice, as he stood by the hearth of the altar encircled by his brethren like a young cedar on Lebanon.

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.

13. It was as if he was surrounded by palm trees when all the sons of Aaron in their splendor, with the offerings to the Lord in their hands, stood before the assembly of Israel.

14. And finishing the service at the altar, that he might adorn the offering of the most high Almighty,

14. When he had completed the service at the altar and presented with dignity the offering to the Almighty and Most High,

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.

15. he took the cup in his hand and poured out a libation of the juice of the grape at the foot of the altar, a pleasing aroma to the Most High, King of the world.

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.

16. Then the sons of Aaron shouted; they blew their trumpets of solid silver, making a great noise as a memorial 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.

17. Then suddenly all the people bowed down with their faces to the ground and adored the Lord, the Almighty and most High God.

18. The singers also sang praises with their voices, with great variety of sounds was there made sweet melody.

18. The choir as well sang his praises, making beautiful music.

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.

19. And the people made supplication to the Most High and prayed to their merciful Lord, until the ceremony was over and the service of the Lord completed.

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.

20. The High Priest then came down and raised his hands towards the whole assembly of the people of Israel to give them in a loud voice the blessing of the Lord and to have the honor of pronouncing his name.

21. And they bowed themselves down to worship the second time, that they might receive a blessing from the most High.

21. Then for a second time the people bowed in worship to receive the blessing of 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.

22. "And now, bless the Lord of the universe who everywhere does great things, who exalts our days from birth and is merciful to us.

23. He grant us joyfulness of heart, and that peace may be in our days in Israel for ever:

23. May he give us happiness and grant peace to Israel in our days and forever!

24. That he would confirm his mercy with us, and deliver us at his time!

24. May he continue to give us his blessings and be a savior to us in our days."

25. There be two manner of nations which my heart abhorreth, and the third is no nation:

25. There are two nations I greatly dislike, the third is not a 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.

26. they are the inhabitants of Mount Seir, the Philistines and the foolish people who live in Shechem.

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.

27. Instruction in understanding and knowledge, that is what Jesus the son of Sira, the son of Eleazar of Jerusalem, has written in this book as he poured out the wisdom of his heart.

28. Blessed is he that shall be exercised in these things; and he that layeth them up in his heart shall become wise.

28. Happy the one who pays attention to this teaching and gains wisdom by taking it to heart.

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. [A Prayer of Jesus the son of Sirach.]

29. Doing that, he will be strong in all circumstances, for the light of the Lord is his path.