Ecclesiasticus, 45

1. And he brought out of him a merciful man, which found favour in the sight of all flesh, even Moses, beloved of God and men, whose memorial is blessed.

1. From Jacob's descendants the Lord brought forth an upright man who won the favor of everyone and was loved by God and men - Moses. Blessed be his memory!

2. He made him like to the glorious saints, and magnified him, so that his enemies stood in fear of him.

2. The Lord gave him glory equal to his holy angels and power that terrified his enemies.

3. By his words he caused the wonders to cease, and he made him glorious in the sight of kings, and gave him a commandment for his people, and shewed him part of his glory.

3. At Moses' word he halted disaster; the Lord exalted him in the presence of kings. He gave him commandments for his people and let him glimpse something of his glory.

4. He sanctified him in his faithfuless and meekness, and chose him out of all men.

4. He chose him from among the living to become holy by being faithful and humble.

5. He made him to hear his voice, and brought him into the dark cloud, and gave him commandments before his face, even the law of life and knowledge, that he might teach Jacob his covenants, and Israel his judgments.

5. God let him hear his voice and led him into darkness, where face to face he gave him the commandments, the law of life and knowledge, to teach Jacob the covenant and make his decrees known to Israel.

6. He exalted Aaron, an holy man like unto him, even his brother, of the tribe of Levi.

6. He raised up Aaron, the brother of Moses, a holy man like Moses, of the tribe of Levi.

7. An everlasting covenant he made with him and gave him the priesthood among the people; he beautified him with comely ornaments, and clothed him with a robe of glory.

7. He made an eternal covenant with him and conferred on him the priesthood of the people. He honored him by giving him majesty and putting a glorious robe upon him.

8. He put upon him perfect glory; and strengthened him with rich garments, with breeches, with a long robe, and the ephod.

8. His vestments and ornaments were splendid in their perfection - breeches, cloak and ephod.

9. And he compassed him with pomegranates, and with many golden bells round about, that 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;

9. As a fringe to his vestment he gave him pomegranates and many golden bells to tinkle as he walked and to be heard in the Temple as a reminder to the sons of his people.

10. With an holy garment, with gold, and blue silk, and purple, the work of the embroidere, with a breastplate of judgment, and with Urim and Thummim;

10. The Lord gave Aaron sacred vestments of gold, blue and purple, the work of artists, the pectoral of judgment, the Urim and Thummim, scarlet yarn spun by a craftsman,

11. With twisted scarlet, the work of the cunning workman, with precious stones graven like seals, and set in gold, the work of the jeweller, with a writing engraved for a memorial, after the number of the tribes of Israel.

11. precious stones with engravings in a setting of gold, the work of a jeweler, to serve as a memorial with their graven inscriptions of the tribes of Israel.

12. He set a crown of gold upon the mitre, wherein was engraved Holiness, an ornament of honour, a costly work, the desires of the eyes, goodly and beautiful.

12. He gave him the turban with a golden diadem engraved with the words of his consecration, a superb ornament, expertly crafted and a delight to the eyes.

13. Before him there were none such, neither did ever any stranger put them on, but only his children and his children's children perpetually.

13. Such things had never been seen before Aaron's time; no outsider ever put them on or ever will, only his children and descendants.

14. Their sacrifices shall be wholly consumed every day twice continually.

14. His sacrifices were to be completely burned twice daily, in perpetuity.

15. Moses consecrated him, and anointed him with holy oil: this was appointed unto him by an everlasting covenant, and to his seed, so long as the heavens should remain, that they should minister unto him, and execute the office of the priesthood, and bless the people in his name.

15. It was Moses who consecrated him and anointed him with holy oil. It was for him an eternal covenant and for his descendants, for as long as the heavens would last, to serve the Lord as his priests and bless the people in his name.

16. He chose him out of all men living to offer sacrifices to the Lord, incense, and a sweet savour, for a memorial, to make reconciliation for his people.

16. He chose him from among all the living to offer sacrifice to the Lord and sweet smelling incense as a memorial, to make atonement for the people.

17. He gave unto him his commandments, and authority in the statutes of judgments, that he should teach Jacob the testimonies, and inform Israel in his laws.

17. The Lord gave him authority to interpret his commandments and utter decisions, to teach Jacob the divine words and enlighten Israel with his Law.

18. Strangers conspired together against him, and maligned him in the wilderness, even the men that were of Dathan's and Abiron's side, and the congregation of Core, with fury and wrath.

18. Outsiders conspired against him and were jealous of him in the desert - Dathan, Abiram and their followers and the supporters of Korah, all violent men full of hate.

19. This the Lord saw, and it displeased him, and in his wrathful indignation were they consumed: he did wonders upon them, to consume them with the fiery flame.

19. The Lord saw it and was angry; in his wrath he destroyed them. He wrought wonders against them, consuming them in the flames of fire.

20. But he made Aaron more honourable, and gave him an heritage, and divided unto him the firstfruits of the increase; especially he prepared bread in abundance:

20. He increased Aaron's glory by giving him a heritage. He allotted to him the first fruits and to begin with, bread in abundance.

21. For they eat of the sacrifices of the Lord, which he gave unto him and his seed.

21. For their food is the sacrifice offered to the Lord, which he gave to Aaron and his descendants.

22. Howbeit in the land of the people he had no inheritance, neither had he any portion among the people: for the Lord himself is his portion and inheritance.

22. But he was to inherit no land as patrimony, no special portion was to be his own, for the Lord himself is his portion and inheritance.

23. The third in glory is Phinees the son of Eleazar, because he had zeal in the fear of the Lord, and stood up with good courage of heart: when the people were turned back, and made reconciliation for Israel.

23. As for Phinehas, son of Eleazar, he is the third in glory, for he was full of zeal in the fear of the Lord when he stood firm among a rebellious people with noble courage and made atonement for Israel.

24. Therefore was there a covenant of peace made with him, that he should be the chief of the sanctuary and of his people, and that he and his posterity should have the dignity of the priesthood for ever:

24. Consequently, a covenant of peace was concluded with him, making him the leader of the sanctuary and of his people. He and his descendants were to have the dignity of high priesthood forever.

25. According to the covenant made with David son of Jesse, of the tribe of Juda, that the inheritance of the king should be to his posterity alone: so the inheritance of Aaron should also be unto his seed.

25. It is not like the covenant established with David, the son of Jesse, of the tribe of Judah, for the kingship passes only from father to one of his sons, but the heritage of Aaron passes to all his descendants.

26. God give you wisdom in your heart to judge his people in righteousness, that their good things be not abolished, and that their glory may endure for ever.

26. May the Lord give them wisdom of heart to judge his people with justice, so that their prosperity may not dwindle and their glory may live on in their descendants!