1It was Simon, the son of Onias, the high priest, who in his life repaired the house,
and in his days strengthened the temple.

2The foundation was built by him to the height of the double walls, the lofty retaining walls of the temple enclosure.

3In his days, a water cistern was dug, the brazen vessel like the sea in circumference.

4He planned to save his people from ruin, and fortified the city against siege.

5How glorious he was when the people gathered around him as he came out of the house of the veil!

6He was like the morning star amongst clouds, like the full moon,

7like the sun shining on the temple of the Most High,
like the rainbow shining in clouds of glory,

8like roses in the days of first fruits,
like lilies by a water spring,
like the shoot of the frankincense tree in summer time,

9like fire and incense in the censer,
like a vessel of beaten gold adorned with all kinds of precious stones,

10like an olive tree loaded with fruit,
and like a cypress growing high amongst the clouds.

11When he put on his glorious robe, and clothed himself in perfect splendour,
ascending to the holy altar,
he made the court of the sanctuary glorious.

12When 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.

13All the sons of Aaron in their glory, held the Lord’s offering in their hands before all the congregation of Israel.

14Finishing the service at the altars, that he might arrange the offering of the Most High, the Almighty,

15he 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.

16Then 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.

17Then all the people together hurried, and fell down to the ground on their faces
to worship their Lord, the Almighty, God Most High.

18The singers also praised him with their voices. There was a sweet melody in the whole house.

19And 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.

20Then 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.

21He bowed himself down in worship the second time, to declare the blessing from the Most High.

22Now 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.

23May he grant us joyfulness of heart, and that peace may be in our days in Israel for the days of eternity,

24to entrust his mercy with us,
and let him deliver us in his time!

25With two nations my soul is vexed, and the third is no nation:

26Those who sit on the mountain of ⁸³Samaria, the Philistines,
and the foolish people who live in Shechem.

27I 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.

28Blessed is he who will exercise these things. He who lays them up in his heart will become wise.

29For if he does them, he will be strong in all things, for the light of the Lord is his guide. ⁸⁴