Liber Ecclesiasticus, 46

1. Fortis in bello Iesus filius Nun, successor Moysi in prophetis, qui fuit secundum nomen suum

1. From his descendants the Lord brought forth a man of mercy, who found favor in the sight of all flesh and was beloved by God and man, Moses, whose memory is blessed.

2. maximus in salutem electorum Dei, qui vindicet in insurgentes hostes, ut heredem faciat Israel.

2. He made him equal in glory to the holy ones, and made him great in the fears of his enemies.

3. Quam gloriam adeptus est in tollendo manus suas et iactando contra civitatem acinacem!

3. By his words he caused signs to cease; the Lord glorified him in the presence of kings. He gave him commands for his people, and showed him part of his glory.

4. Quis ante illum restitit? Nam bella Domini ipse perduxit.

4. He sanctified him through faithfulness and meekness; he chose him out of all mankind.

5. An non in manu eius impeditus est sol, et una dies facta est quasi duo?

5. He made him hear his voice, and led him into the thick darkness, and gave him the commandments face to face, the law of life and knowledge, to teach Jacob the covenant, and Israel his judgments.

6. Invocavit Altissimum potentem in oppugnando inimicos undique; et audivit illum magnus Dominus in saxis grandinis virtutis valde fortis.

6. He exalted Aaron, the brother of Moses, a holy man like him, of the tribe of Levi.

7. Impetum fecit contra gentem hostilem et in descensu perdidit contrarios,

7. He made an everlasting covenant with him, and gave him the priesthood of the people. He blessed him with splendid vestments, and put a glorious robe upon him.

8. ut cognoscant gentes armaturam eius, quia contra Deum bellum eorum est: etenim secutus est a tergo Potentis.

8. He clothed him with superb perfection, and strengthened him with the symbols of authority, the linen breeches, the long robe, and the ephod.

9. Et in diebus Moysi misericordiam fecit, ipse et Chaleb filius Iephonne, stare contra congregationem, prohibere gentem a peccatis et perfringere murmur malitiae.

9. And he encircled him with pomegranates, with very many golden bells round about, to send forth a sound as he walked, to make their ringing heard in the temple as a reminder to the sons of his people;

10. Ideo et ipsi duo liberati sunt a numero sescentorum milium peditum, ut inducerent illos in hereditatem, in terram, quae manat lac et mel.

10. with a holy garment, of gold and blue and purple, the work of an embroiderer; with the oracle of judgment, Urim and Thummim;

11. Et dedit Dominus ipsi Chaleb fortitudinem, et usque in senectutem permansit illi, ut ascenderet in excelsum terrae locum; et semen ipsius obtinuit hereditatem,

11. with twisted scarlet, the work of a craftsman; with precious stones engraved like signets, in a setting of gold, the work of a jeweler, for a reminder, in engraved letters, according to the number of the tribes of Israel;

12. ut viderent omnes filii Israel quia bonum est obsequi Domino.

12. with a gold crown upon his turban, inscribed like a signet with "Holiness," a distinction to be prized, the work of an expert, the delight of the eyes, richly adorned.

13. Et iudices singuli suo nomine, quorum non est corruptum cor, qui non aversi sunt a Domino:

13. Before his time there never were such beautiful things. No outsider ever put them on, but only his sons and his descendants perpetually.

14. sit memoria illorum in benedictione, et ossa eorum pullulent de loco suo,

14. His sacrifices shall be wholly burned twice every day continually.

15. et nomen eorum renovet filiis illorum sanctorum virorum.

15. Moses ordained him, and anointed him with holy oil; it was an everlasting covenant for him and for his descendants all the days of heaven, to minister to the Lord and serve as priest and bless his people in his name.

16. Dilectus a Domino suo Samuel propheta Domini instituit imperium et unxit principes in gente sua.

16. He chose him out of all the living to offer sacrifice to the Lord, incense and a pleasing odor as a memorial portion, to make atonement for the people.

17. In lege Domini congregationem iudicavit, et visitavit Deus Iacob, et in fide sua probatus est propheta;

17. In his commandments he gave him authority and statutes and judgments, to teach Jacob the testimonies, and to enlighten Israel with his law.

18. et cognitus est in verbis suis fidelis in visione.

18. Outsiders conspired against him, and envied him in the wilderness, Dathan and Abiram and their men and the company of Korah, in wrath and anger.

19. Et invocavit Dominum omnipotentem, in oppugnando hostes circumstantes undique, in oblatione agni lactentis.

19. The Lord saw it and was not pleased, and in the wrath of his anger they were destroyed; he wrought wonders against them to consume them in flaming fire.

20. Et intonuit de caelo Dominus et in sonitu magno auditam fecit vocem suam

20. He added glory to Aaron and gave him a heritage; he allotted to him the first of the first fruits, he prepared bread of first fruits in abundance;

21. et contrivit principes Tyriorum et omnes duces Philisthim.

21. for they eat the sacrifices to the Lord, which he gave to him and his descendants.

22. Et ante tempus dormitionis aeternae testimonium praebuit in conspectu Domini et christi eius: “Pecunias et usque ad calceamenta ab omni carne non accepi”; et non accusavit illum homo.

22. But in the land of the people he has no inheritance, and he has no portion among the people; for the Lord himself is his portion and inheritance.

23. Et, postquam dormivit, prophetavit et notum fecit regi et ostendit illi finem vitae suae et exaltavit vocem suam de terra in prophetia ad delendam impietatem gentis.

23. Phinehas the son of Eleazar is the third in glory, for he was zealous in the fear of the Lord, and stood fast, when the people turned away, in the ready goodness of his soul, and made atonement for Israel.

24.

24. Therefore a covenant of peace was established with him, that he should be leader of the sanctuary and of his people, that he and his descendants should have the dignity of the priesthood for ever.

25.

25. A covenant was also established with David, the son of Jesse, of the tribe of Judah: the heritage of the king is from son to son only; so the heritage of Aaron is for his descendants.

26.

26. May the Lord grant you wisdom in your heart to judge his people in righteousness, so that their prosperity may not vanish, and that their glory may endure throughout their generations.