Sirach 45 - Contemporary English Version Interconfessional Edition

¹ he was well loved by Israel and God. The man was Moses, and we still give thanks whenever we think of him.

² The Lord gave Moses glory equal to the angels and power that terrified his enemies. *

³ When Moses spoke, miracles happened, and even the king of Egypt was forced to honor him. The Lord chose Moses to see his glory and to receive the Law

⁴ because Moses was faithful and humble.

⁵ He heard the Lord's voice and saw him face to face, when the Lord told him to teach Israel the commands that give knowledge and life.

Aaron the Priest

⁶ Aaron the brother of Moses was a holy man from the tribe of Levi, and the Lord chose him *

⁷ and his descendants to be Israel's priests for all time. The Lord told him to wear glorious clothing

⁸ with beautiful decorations and jewelry. Three things truly showed Aaron's priestly power— the linen shorts, the robe, and the sacred vest.

⁹ Pomegranates were embroidered along the hem of the robe, and gold bells were sewn there, so others could hear the ringing as he walked in the temple. *

¹⁰ The vest was embroidered with blue and purple yarn and decorated with gold.

¹¹ The breastpiece was decorated with red yarn, and it held the sacred items used in getting answers from God. On it were precious stones, set in finely worked gold and engraved with the names of Israel's twelve tribes.

¹² On Aaron's turban was a beautiful strip of gold made by an expert and engraved with the words, “Dedicated to the Lord.”

¹³ All these things were made for Aaron the priest, and since his time, only his descendants have ever worn them.

¹⁴ Twice each day, these priests offer sacrifices to please the Lord.

¹⁵ Moses ordained Aaron as priest by pouring sacred olive oil on his head. And the Lord promised Aaron that his descendants would serve as his priests forever and bless the people of Israel in his name.

¹⁶ The Lord chose only him to burn sacrifices and incense with a pleasing smell, reminding the Lord of his people and asking him to forgive their sins.

¹⁷ Aaron was made a judge and was given the Law with instructions to teach it to Israel.

¹⁸ When Israel was in the desert, some men who were not priests became jealous of Aaron, and they rebelled, led by Dathan, Abiram, and Korah.

¹⁹ But the Lord wasn't pleased, and to show he was furious, he sent down fire to destroy them.

²⁰ The Lord honored Aaron even more by giving to him the offerings of the first part of the harvest. And so these offerings are the priests' inheritance,

²¹ along with other sacrifices the Lord gave to them.

²² Their inheritance is the Lord, not a piece of ground among the rest of Israel.

Phinehas the Priest

²³ Phinehas son of Eleazar is almost as famous as Moses and Aaron. Phinehas was brave and eager to obey the Lord, when the other Israelites were unfaithful. And so, because of what he did, God spared Israel

²⁴ and promised to Phinehas and his descendants the honor of forever being leaders of the nation and priests in the temple.

²⁵ According to this promise made by the Lord, only a descendant of Aaron can be a priest, just as Israel's king must be from the family of David.

A Short Prayer for the Priests

²⁶ Give thanks to the Lord who has given glory to you priests. I pray he will give you wisdom so you will make fair decisions when you judge his people. Then they will be successful and famous forever.