Sirach · Revised Version with Apocrypha
Sirach 50 Revised Version with Apocrypha
1 [It was ] Simon, the son of Onias, the great priest, Who in his life repaired the house, And in his days strengthened the temple:
1 It was Simon, the son of Onias, the high priest, who in his life repaired the house, and in his days strengthened the temple.
2 And by him was built from the foundation the height of the double [wall, ] The lofty underworks of the inclosure of the temple:
2 The foundation was built by him to the height of the double walls, the lofty retaining walls of the temple enclosure.
3 In his days the cistern of waters was diminished, The brazen vessel in compass as the sea.
3 In his days, a water cistern was dug, the brazen vessel like the sea in circumference.
4 [It was ] he that took thought for his people that they should not fall, And fortified the city against besieging:
4 He planned to save his people from ruin, and fortified the city against siege.
5 How glorious was he when the people gathered round him At his coming forth out of the sanctuary!
5 How glorious he was when the people gathered around him as he came out of the house of the veil!
6 As the morning star in the midst of a cloud, As the moon at the full:
6 He was like the morning star among clouds, like the full moon,
7 As the sun shining forth upon the temple of the Most High, And as the rainbow giving light in clouds of glory:
7 like the sun shining on the temple of the Most High, like the rainbow shining in clouds of glory,
8 As the flower of roses in the days of new [fruits, ] As lilies at the waterspring, As the shoot of the frankencense tree in the time of summer:
8 like roses in the days of first fruits, like lilies by a water spring, like the shoot of the frankincense tree in summer time,
9 As fire and incense in the censer, As a vessel all of beaten gold Adorned with all manner of precious stones:
9 like fire and incense in the censer, like a vessel of beaten gold adorned with all kinds of precious stones,
10 As an olive tree budding forth fruits, And as a cypress growing high among the clouds.
10 like an olive tree loaded with fruit, and like a cypress growing high among the clouds.
11 When he took up the robe of glory, And put on the perfection of exultation, In the ascent of the holy altar, He made glorious the precinct of the sanctuary.
11 When he put on his glorious robe, and clothed himself in perfect splendor, ascending to the holy altar, he made the court of the sanctuary glorious.
12 And when he received the portions out of the priests’ hands, Himself also standing by the hearth of the altar, His brethren as a garland round about him, He was as a young cedar in Libanus; And as stems of palm trees compassed they him round about,
12 When he received the portions out of the priests’ hands, as he stood by the hearth of the altar, with his kindred like a garland around him, he was like a young cedar in Lebanon surrounded by the trunks of palm trees.
13 And all the sons of Aaron in their glory, And the Lord’s offering in their hands, before all the congregation of Israel.
13 All the sons of Aaron in their glory, held the Lord’s offering in their hands before all the congregation of Israel.
14 And finishing the service at the altars, That he might adorn the offering of the Most High, the Almighty,
14 Finishing the service at the altars, that he might arrange the offering of the Most High, the Almighty,
15 He stretched out his hand to the cup, And poured out the cup of the grape; He poured out at the foot of the altar A sweet-smelling savour unto the Most High, the King of all.
15 he stretched out his hand to the cup of libation, and poured out the cup of the grape. He poured it out at the foot of the altar, a sweet smelling fragrance to the Most High, the King of all.
16 Then shouted the sons of Aaron, They sounded the trumpets of beaten work, They made a great noise to be heard, For a remembrance before the Most High.
16 Then the sons of Aaron shouted. They sounded the trumpets of beaten work. They made a great fanfare to be heard, for a reminder before the Most High.
17 Then all the people together hasted, And fell down upon the earth on their faces To worship their Lord, the Almighty, God Most High.
17 Then all the people together hurried, and fell down to the ground on their faces to worship their Lord, the Almighty, God Most High.
18 The singers also praised him with their voices; In the whole house was there made sweet melody.
18 The singers also praised him with their voices. There was a sweet melody in the whole house.
19 And the people besought the Lord Most High, In prayer before him that is merciful. Till the worship of the Lord should be ended; And so they accomplished his service.
19 And the people implored the Lord Most High, in prayer before him who is merciful, until the worship of the Lord was finished, and so they accomplished his service.
20 Then he went down, and lifted up his hands Over the whole congregation of the children of Israel, To give blessing unto the Lord with his lips, And to glory in his name.
20 Then he went down, and lifted up his hands over the whole congregation of the children of Israel, to give blessing to the Lord with his lips, and to glory in his name.
21 And he bowed himself down in worship the second time, To declare the blessing from the Most High.
21 He bowed himself down in worship the second time, to declare the blessing from the Most High.
22 And now bless ye the God of all, Which everywhere doeth great things, Which exalteth our days from the womb, And dealeth with us according to his mercy.
22 Now bless the God of all, who everywhere does great things, who exalts our days from the womb, and deals with us according to his mercy.
23 May he grant us joyfulness of heart, And that peace may be in our days in Israel for the days of eternity:
23 May he grant us joyfulness of heart, and that peace may be in our days in Israel for the days of eternity,
24 To intrust his mercy with us; And let him deliver us in his time!
24 to entrust his mercy with us, and let him deliver us in his time!
25 With two nations is my soul vexed, And the third is no nation:
25 With two nations my soul is vexed, and the third is no nation:
26 They that sit upon the mountain of Samaria, [and ] the Philistines, And that foolish people that dwelleth in Sichem.
26 Those who sit on the mountain of Samaria, the Philistines, and the foolish people who live in Shechem.
27 I have written in this book the instruction of understanding and knowledge, I Jesus, the son of Sirach Eleazar, of Jerusalem, Who out of his heart poured forth wisdom.
27 I have written in this book the instruction of understanding and knowledge, I Jesus, the son of Sirach Eleazar, of Jerusalem, 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.
28 Blessed is he who will exercise these things. He who lays them up in his heart will become wise.
29 For if he do them, he shall be strong to all things: For the light of the Lord is his guide.
29 For if he does them, he will be strong in all things, for the light of the Lord is his guide.