The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Ecclesiaticus 50
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 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, a water cistern was dug,
the brazen vessel like the sea in circumference.
4 He planned to save his people from ruin,
and fortified the city against siege.
5 How glorious he was when the people
gathered around him as he came out of the
house of the veil!
6 He was like the morning star among
clouds, like the full moon,
7 like the sun shining on the temple of
the Most High, like the rainbow shining
in clouds of glory,
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 like fire and incense in the censer,
like a vessel of beaten gold adorned
with all kinds of precious stones,
10 like an olive tree loaded with fruit,
and like a cypress growing high
among the clouds.
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 When he received the portions out ofthe
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 All the sons of Aaron in their glory,
held the Lord’s offering in their hands
before all the congregation of Israel.
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
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 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 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. There was a sweet melody in the
whole house.
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 to
the Lord with his lips, and to glory in his name.
21 He bowed himself down in worship the
second time, to declare the blessing
from the Most High.
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,
24 to entrust his mercy with us,
and let him deliver us in his time!
25 With two nations my soul is vexed,
and the third is no nation:
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.
28 Blessed is he who will exercise these
things. He who lays them up in his heart will
become wise.
29 For if he does them, he will be strong in
all things, for the light of the Lord is his guide.‡