Chapter 50

¹ Simon the high priest, the son of Onias,

Sir 50:1

² And by him was built from the foundation the double height,

Sir 50:2

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

Sir 50:3

⁴ He took care of the temple that it should not fall,

Sir 50:4

⁵ How was he honored in the midst of the people

Sir 50:5

⁶ He was as the morning star in the midst of a cloud,

Sir 50:6

⁷ As the sun shining upon the temple of the most High,

Sir 50:7

⁸ And as the flower of roses in the spring of the year,

Sir 50:8

⁹ As fire and incense in the censer,

Sir 50:9

¹⁰ And as a fair olive tree budding forth fruit,

Sir 50:10

¹¹ When he put on the robe of honor,

Sir 50:11

¹² When he took the portions out of the priests’ hands,

Sir 50:12

¹³ So were all the sons of Aaron in their glory,

Sir 50:13

¹⁴ And finishing the service at the altar,

Sir 50:14

¹⁵ He stretched out his hand to the cup,

Sir 50:15

¹⁶ Then shouted the sons of Aaron,

Sir 50:16

¹⁷ Then all the people together hastened,

Sir 50:17

¹⁸ The singers also sang praises with their voices,

Sir 50:18

¹⁹ And the people besought the Lord, the most High,

Sir 50:19

²⁰ Then he went down, and lifted up his hands over the whole congregation of the children of Israel,

Sir 50:20

²¹ And they bowed themselves down to worship the second time,

Sir 50:21

²² Now therefore bless ye the God of all,

Sir 50:22

²³ He grant us joyfulness of heart,

Sir 50:23

²⁴ That he would confirm his mercy with us,

Sir 50:24

²⁵ There be two manner of nations which my heart abhorreth,

Sir 50:25

²⁶ They that sit upon the mountain of Samaria,

Sir 50:26

²⁷ Jesus the son of Sirach of Jerusalem

Sir 50:27

²⁸ Blessed is he that shall be exercised in these things:

Sir 50:28

²⁹ For if he do them, he shall be strong to all things:

Sir 50:29